Colorado Republican Dan Maes issued a defiant statement Friday, refusing to bow to pressure from his supporters to quit the governor's race.
"During this time of deliberation, I listened equally to those who wanted me in this race and those who did not, and after internalizing that advice, I'm proud to say I'm in it to win it," he said in a statement.
"To those who have withdrawn their support for my campaign, I am confident that the truth will be revealed."
He called for the party to unite behind him and singled out the supporters who stayed with him through the controversy. "Thank you for honoring this endeavor with your trust and your confidence," he said.
"And finally, to the citizens of this state, don’t believe everything you read," Maes added. "This campaign found success through hard work, palm-pressing, and shoe leather, and that's how I plan to engage voters over the next two months and claim victory on November 2nd."
Colorado Senate candidate Ken Buck (R) had been the latest to add his voice to the chorus of Republicans calling for Maes to step aside. Buck's statement prompted a rebuke from Sen. Michael Bennet's (D-Colo.) campaign.
"If Dan Maes, who Ken agrees with and considers a friend, can't count on Buck to stand up for him, how can we trust Buck to stand up for us?" Trevor Kincaid, a spokesman for Bennet, said in a statement.
Colorado Senate candidate Ken Buck (R) has added his voice to the chorus of Republicans calling for gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes to step aside.
"After having a lengthy conversation with Dan Maes, it is clear to me that Dan is struggling to determine the best path for his campaign, his family and for Colorado," Buck said in a statement. "I have decided that I can no longer support his candidacy for governor of Colorado."
Buck joins former Sen. Hank Brown (R-Colo.), former GOP Senate candidate Pete Coors and former state Senate President John Andrews (R), who have all called for Maes to step aside.
The Democrat vying to succeed retiring Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.) gained a small edge on her Republican rival in fundraising.
State Sen. Julie Lassa (D) raised slightly more than $235,000 between July 1 and Aug. 25, the final reporting period before Wisconsin's Sept. 14 primary. Both candidates face nominal opposition for their nominations but are expected to sail through the vote.
Republican Sean Duffy raised just over $230,000 during the final reporting period, and maintains a cash-on-hand advantage, having slightly less than $700,000 banked for the general, whereas Lassa has some $400,000.
But Lassa has gotten help from the national party. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has already hit Duffy with a TV ad accusing him of wanting to eliminate Social Security.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R), whose first debate with Democratic state Attorney General Terry Goddard (D) featured an agonizingly long period of silence after Brewer stumbled in her opening statement, said Thursday she won't debate her opponent again ahead of November.
"I certainly will take my message in a different venue out to the people of Arizona," Brewer told Arizona's Capitol Media Services.
Brewer argued both she and Goddard have been in public service long enough for their records to be well known among Arizona voters and suggested no other debates were necessary.
The governor also said additional debates would only serve to help Goddard.
"Why would I want to give Terry a chance to redefine himself?" she said.
The video of Brewer from Wednesday's debate is below.
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