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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The Colorado Senate race got national attention the past two days amid accusations the White House tampered with the race.

Former State House Speaker Andrew Romanoff is challenging current Sen. Michael Bennet in the Democratic primary.

Now there are accusations the White House tried to keep Romanoff out of the race by offering him a job in the administration. Both the White House and Romanoff confirm the discussions happened.

Romanoff says it all went down last fall before he formally announced he was running. He said a top White House official called him and dangled administration positions in front of him in exchange for staying out of the race.

It’s the second time in recent weeks the White House has been accused of using administration positions to try to avoid a primary challenge against a Democratic incumbent

"Does the leader of the party have an interest in ensuring that primaries that tend to be costly aren't had so that you're ready for a general election?  Of course," said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

The White House says Romanoff applied for a position in the administration during the transition.

Then last September as word began to leak out that Romanoff was considering a Senate run, he says he got a call from Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina.

He suggested three positions that might be available to me were I not to pursue the senate race and he e-mailed me descriptions of those positions that day. I informed him that I was not going to change course," Romaoff said.

But some Republicans say Messina's move may have been more than political maneuvering. It may have been illegal.

As soon as he offers a federal job or uses federal paid employees to make these calls or e-mails from the White House, he's crossed a number of lines both ethically and legally." said California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa. 

Romanoff insists no job was ever promised.

"Mr. Messina himself said that he could not guarantee my appointment to any particular job," Romanoff said.

The White House says President Barack Obama was unaware Messina was offering Romanoff jobs.

Coincidentally Andrew Romanoff is making campaign stops in Colorado Springs and Pueblo Friday.

Related stories:

Norton to Bennet: What did you know about job offer? 

GOP's Steele: Romanoff discussion crossed the line 

Gibbs denies offering job to Colo. candidate 

Romanoff says job prospects didn't influence him