Back-room deals in the Colorado senate race?

A week after allegations that the White House offered Rep. Joe Sestak a job to dissuade him from challenging Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate primary, the Obama administration has confirmed that it also offered a position to another incumbent challenger, Andrew Romanoff of Colorado. Romanoff, the former speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, who is challenging incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet in a primary race for Senate, said Wednesday that he was suggested a position in the administration in order to get him to drop out of the primary.

These new reports have some accusing the Obama White House of “back-room dealing,” though Romanoff says he was never formally offered a position. Is it true that the White House is engaging in dubious political tactics, or is this sort of partronage commonplace in Washington? Peter Baker of our partner, The New York Times, has the latest on this developing story.