Orrin Hatch's PAC donated to Lugar, Snowe

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) may be in the sights of Tea Party activists ahead of 2012, but the Utah Republican has given help to two of his Senate colleagues who face conservative primary challengers themselves.

Hatch's political action committee — OrrinPAC — donated to both Sens. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) during the first quarter of the year, according to the PAC's March filing with the Federal Election Commission. Both Republicans are Tea Party targets in 2012.

Hatch's PAC donated $1,000 each to Lugar and Snowe in February. Asked about the donations, Hatch campaign manager Dave Hansen said the senator "traditionally has given to his Republican colleagues who face reelection."

Hatch has wooed Tea Party activists in his home state and has taken a bit less flak from conservative activists over the past year than have Lugar and Snowe. In Indiana, Lugar has openly sparred with Tea Party backers. 

Hatch's February donations came on the same day he donated to four other GOP senators up for reelection in 2012. Hatch's PAC also gave $1,000 to the reelection campaigns of Republican Sens. Scott Brown (Mass.), Roger Wicker (Miss.), John Barrasso (Wyo.) and Bob Corker (Tenn.).

Hatch also gave $1,000 to Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), who had not yet announced his decision to not seek another term as of the date of the donation.

Hatch, meanwhile, raised $773,000 during the first three months of the year for his own reelection race and reported close to $3 million cash on hand, according to his campaign.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), a potential Hatch primary challenger next year, raised just $110,000 during the first quarter.