UPDATED 6:30 P.M. CST 

ST. PAUL, Minn.--Recent polls show Republican Bob Schaffer and Democrat Mark Udall neck-and-neck in race to succeed U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Loveland).

But U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), vice chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, predicted Schaffer would keep the seat for the GOP.

"Bob Schaffer's doing a great job. He's running a great race," Hatch said to PolitickerCO.com Monday afternoon at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, where the Republican National Convention is taking place.

Hatch said Schaffer has "got four multimillionaires smearing him" - referencing Colorado's so-called "Gang of Four."

"And I think that's what's pathetic about the current election laws," Hatch said. "But I think that he can win it. And he's got to."

"Udall," Hatch said, "is about as left-wing as you can turn. And even though he changed his position on offshore drilling, nobody who knows him believes that's going to be the situation."

As for Schaffer, Hatch said, "I don't mean to sound pejorative here, but Schaffer's a solid, tough guy. He really understands the issues, and I think he's going to win that race.

"I hope he does," Hatch added.

"Instead of working with Mark Udall on a bipartisan plan to lower energy prices, all Sen. Hatch can do is call him names," the Udall campaign shot back in a statement. "This lack of leadership is a perfect example of why Mr. Hatch is in the minority,"