He’s been signaling it for weeks, but now it’s official: GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch will support AG nominee Eric Holder’s nomination. The Hill reports on the embrace. Hatch explains GOP leadership at work: “I like Barack Obama and I want to help him if I can.” I’m too tired to break out the dead elephant and my head hurts from all those Mitch McConnell head-banging-against-the-wall moments.

The morbid details:

The former Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee will support Eric Holder’s nomination for attorney general, giving him a major boost toward confirmation.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah), who chaired the panel for a decade beginning in 1995, told The Hill that he will support Holder.

“I intend to,” said Hatch.

His decision could undermine GOP efforts to stall or block the confirmation. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) said Friday that Holder would be the only Cabinet nominee to face a tough confirmation fight.

Hatch said that Republicans should try to strike a cooperative tone with President-elect Obama during the first days of his administration.

“I start with the premise that the president deserves the benefit of the doubt. I don’t think politics should be played with the attorney general,” he said.

“I like Barack Obama and want to help him if I can.”

Never mind what the victims of Eric Holder’s lack of judgement have to say, eh, Sen. Hatch?

Holder clearly does not have the judgment, character or values to be Attorney General.