In a statement, Democrat Andrew Romanoff, who rankled President Barack Obama's White House, said Obama's deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina tried to prevent Romanoff from challenging incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).
Romanoff said Messina called him after news of his run was reported and told him that the president would be supporting Bennet.
“Mr. Messina also suggested three positions that might be available to me were I not pursuing the Senate race,” Romanoff said. “He added that he could not guarantee my appointment to any of these positions. At no time was I promised a job, nor did I request Mr. Messina’s assistance in obtaining one.”
The three positions described in the email are two senior positions at the USAID and director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
Romanoff said after he received the email from Messina, he called the deputy chief of staff and left a voicemail saying that he was not withdrawing from the race.
“I have not spoken with Mr. Messina, nor have I discussed this matter with anyone else in the White House, since then,” the statement read.
A spokesman for the White House told the Associated Press that Romanoff was recommended to the White House by Colorado Democrats for a position in the administration.
“There were some initial conversations with him but no job was ever offered,” said White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton.
Romanoff is the second Democratic Senate candidate the White House approached with an offer of a job in order to clear the field for its chosen candidate.
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