Hatch reportedly warming to Toomey

A leading Republican Senator who once said there wasn’t anybody “in the world who believes” Pat Toomey could win a general election for Senate is now set to host a fundraiser for the GOP candidate.

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) will host a fundraising lunch for Toomey Nov. 17, Roll Call reports, yet another indication that a Republican leadership once deeply skeptical of Toomey’s electability is increasingly behind him.

After Senator Arlen Specter switched parties in April, Hatch was one of several big-name Republicans whose comments about Toomey helped ignite a search within the party for an alternative to Toomey, a search the included—but was unsuccessful in courting—former Gov. Tom Ridge.

”Our campaign has worked hard and succeeded in persuading a great many people of Pat Toomey’s prospects in this race, and now every public poll proves it,” Toomey campaign spokeswoman Nachama Soloveichik told Roll Call. “Pat is very pleased to have Sen. Hatch’s support and looks forward to working with him throughout the campaign and serving with him in the Senate.”