WASHINGTON — When Sen. Orrin Hatch and his wife discussed whether he should run again for the U.S. Senate late last year, she said, "Orrin, don't you think it's time for you and me to have a life?"

After 49 years of marriage, 30 of which her husband has spent in the Senate, it appeared Elaine Hatch was ready for a change.

But Orrin Hatch, a Republican and the longest serving Utah politician still in office, just smiled at his wife and said, "Elaine, this is our life."

"My life is a life of service," he said.

So with that, Hatch, 72, opted to run for a sixth term and says he will keep running as long as he remains in good health and his position in the Senate will benefit the state.

"I believe I can do some things that others can't," Hatch said. "I'm right in the middle of all of it."

If re-elected, he will become the longest serving politician in Utah history. He's tied with Republican Reed Smoot, the state's first U.S. senator who also served 30 years. Hatch would be 78 years old by the time his sixth term would be up if re-elected.

Some observers have said Hatch has had his share of so-called "senior moments" in the past few years, where his staff has quickly had to handle some missteps, like confusing the Vietnam War with the Iraq war or saying that terrorists are waiting for Democrats to take control of the government before striking again.

But Hatch said he is fine and actually better than ever.

"If anything I am stronger today than I was then," Hatch said. "I may not be able to play basketball like I once did, but I keep going every day."

Hatch and his wife have six children, 22 grandchildren with another on the way and one great-grandchild.

Although this financial disclosure forms reveal his personal wealth is worth at least $1 million and as much as about $4 million, Hatch said he came from a poor family and he remembers selling eggs from his family's chickens at 6 years old.

"I knew what it was like to be hungry," Hatch said.

Long record

Hatch is running on his record in the Senate and what the future may hold for him if the Republicans hold onto the majority in this election and the 2008 election.

Only seven other senators in the current Senate have served longer than he has, and only Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., remains from Hatch's freshman class of senators. Hatch sits on powerful committees, often as one of the top-ranking Republicans.