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Independent U.S. Senate candidate Greg Orman earned the endorsement Wednesday of a Kansas organization of about 70 former Republican elected officials who believe bipartisanship is required to break political gridlock in Congress.

The board of Traditional Republicans for Common Sense, with members who boast more than 700 years of legislative service, opted for Orman over incumbent Republican Pat Roberts and Democratic nominee Chad Taylor, who dropped out of the campaign Wednesday.

"We believe Greg Orman is the best qualified candidate for the office of United States senator from Kansas," said Jim Yonally, chairman of the group. "Our members know leadership, because theyve been in leadership. Theyve been on the front line."

Orman said during a news conference in Topeka that he welcomed support of GOP leaders who represented an era of Kansas politics that focused on collaboration to resolve challenges rather than promotion of partisan division.

"I consider myself an independent, pragmatic problem solver," Orman said. "Kansas voters are frustrated. They look at what is going on in Washington today and they realize that as a country we're ignoring our problems. We're not getting things done."

Leroy Towns, spokesman for Roberts' re-election campaign, said some members of Traditional Republicans for Common Sense had revealed their true colors by endorsing Democrat Paul Davis for governor rather than backing Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

Towns accused Orman of deceptive campaigning by claimingsupport from Traditional Republicans for Common Sense while some individuals listed as members of that organization were supporting Roberts' re-election. He said former U.S. Rep. Jan Meyers, former state Sen. Bob Marshall and former state Rep. John Golden fit that mold.

"This is just more deception from a candidate who wants voters to believe he is a nonpartisan independent when, in fact, he is a liberal Democrat by experience and by philosophy," he said.

Meyers, in a statement provided by the Roberts campaign, said she hadnt endorsed Orman.

"Quite to the contrary," she said, "I am voting for Pat Roberts and wholeheartedly endorse Pat for re-election."

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Republican group endorses Orman for Senate