Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, announced his retirement Tuesday, paving the way for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, to run for his seat.

While Romney was coy about the possibility as he thanked Hatch for his service, many Republican insiders in Utah and Washington think it is all but a done deal. Which raises the question: What if Romney never ran for office in Massachusetts and had spent his entire political career in Utah instead?