Palin endorses Hatch, calls him Mr. Balanced Budget

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Sen. Orrin Hatch picked up the endorsement of Sarah Palin on Tuesday, adding to the list of conservative commentators who support his reelection effort.Palin told Fox News' Greta Van Susteren: "I want him to win. I join Sean Hannity and Mark Levin and other conservatives who would like to see Mr. Balanced Budget return to Washington."This isn't the first time Palin, the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, said nice things about Hatch on Van Susteren's show. Last August, Palin and Van Susteren agreed that the tea party should embrace Hatch. But on Tuesday, Palin gave a full throated endorsement and noted that others in the conservative movement have different views."I want to see him reelected so my endorsement of him will differ from others of course in that race in Utah," she said.Of note, Michelle Malkin and the tea party group FreedomWorks have hammered Hatch during the campaign supporting Dan Liljenquist in the GOP primary. Palin's move is slightly out of character. She joined those same groups in opposing Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., who recently lost in a Republican primary to Richard Mourdock. — Matt CanhamTwitter: @mattcanham