Orrin Hatch

MINNEAPOLIS -- U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) told Utah's delegation to the Republican National Convention that retaking the majority in the Senate this year was something his party would likely not be able to do.

According to a report from the Salt Lake Tribune, McConnell said the "numbers were daunting" in Senate contests.

"There's virtually no chance we can get the Senate back," McConnell reportedly noted.

Democrats currently hold a 50 to 48 advantage in the Senate, with 2 independents, though there are a number of hotly-contested races across the country. Many analysts expect some Republican seats to change hands. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) recently claimed that number could hit four.

U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning: Getty Images PhotoST. PAUL, Minn. – As speculation continues about who will run from the Democratic side, National Republican Senatorial Committee Vice-chair and Sen. from Utah, Orrin Hatch, sounded sure that Republican incumbent Jim Bunning (R-Southgate) would seek re-election in 2010.

“He’s going to run,” Hatch told PolitickerKY.com.

Bunning won a narrow re-election fight in 2004, eeking out a 1 point win after a hard-fought campaign over now-Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo (D-Hazard).

The junior Sen. from Kentucky, Bunning recently announced he thought he would $10 million to secure his seat next time around.

Hatch lauded the Kentuckian today while giving interviews at the Republican National Convention.

“Bunning is a tough guy,” said Hatch. “I love Bunning.”

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The vice-chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee likes his party’s odds of retaining a seat in Kentucky’s U.S. Sen. race between Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) and businessman Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville).

“McConnell is one of the truly great senators. I think all he’s got to do is just emphasize what he is doing for Kentucky,” NRSC Vice-chair and U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) told PolitickerKY.com. “There is nobody that’s going to beat him.”

McConnell showed a double-digit polling lead over Lunsford in recent weeks, along with a sizeable fundraising advantage after 2nd quarter reports were released.