Senator Orrin Hatch gave us a big surprise Monday ... he said he'd like to sit down with Oprah and help her if she decides to run for President in 2020.
We got the Utah Senator -- who's retiring this year -- at Reagan National Airport in D.C., and he seemed gleeful about the Presidential buzz following Oprah's Golden Globes speech.
Mind you ... Hatch is the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, who has been super conservative over the years.
Hatch goes as far as to say she'd be a serious candidate if she handles things properly. It's interesting ... he was more overtly supportive of Oprah running than Elizabeth Warren, who deflected the question.