Latest southern Colorado news, weather and sports from FOX21 News

DENVER (AP) -- Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele says the Barack Obama administration offered a "quid pro quo" to Andrew Romanoff to drop his Democratic primary challenge to Sen. Michael Bennet.

Steele said Thursday that federal law draws a clear line making it illegal to offer anything in exchange for a taxpayer-funded job. Steele says the administration crossed that line when it encouraged former House Speaker Romanoff to apply for a federal job instead of challenging Bennet.

Steele made his remarks on "The Cari and Rob Show" on KRAI radio in Craig.

Romanoff says the administration described three federal jobs that might be available if he were not challenging Bennet. He says he wasn't promised a job and didn't pursue one.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Related stories:

Gibbs denies offering job to Colo. candidate