Ex-Kansas Gov. Bill Graves endorses Pat Roberts for Senate

Former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves has endorsed U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts and is recording a statewide radio ad for the three-term Republican incumbent in his tough re-election race.

The Roberts campaign released a letter Wednesday from Graves calling Roberts a tested leader and reasonable problem-solver.

Roberts is in a tight race with independent candidate and Olathe businessman Greg Orman. The challenger is running as a centrist who can break gridlock in Washington.

Graves is a GOP moderate who served as governor from 1995 through 2003 and often clashed with GOP conservatives. He is president of the American Trucking Associations.

Graves’ actions follow Orman’s endorsement by a group of former moderate GOP state legislators.

Roberts campaign manager Corry Bliss said the Graves radio ad should be running by Friday.

This story was originally published October 22, 2014 at 10:13 AM with the headline "Ex-Kansas Gov. Bill Graves endorses Pat Roberts for Senate."