Former President Bill Clinton on Tuesday went off the national party message by endorsing former state Speaker Andrew Romanoff against Sen. Michael Bennet in the Democratic primary.

Romanoff has said that before he announced his plans to run for Senate earlier this year, several of the party’s top brass tried to discourage him from challenging Bennet and forcing the appointed Senator into a bruising primary ahead of what is expected to be a competitive general election.

According to recently filed financial disclosure reports, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had spent more than $71,000 in coordinated expenditures on Bennet as of May 31.

Clinton released his fundraising pitch for Romanoff one day before the end of the June fundraising quarter.

In the letter, Clinton talks about meeting Romanoff during his 1992 presidential campaign and praises the Senate candidate for his “integrity, courage and compassion.”

“Simply put, Andrew Romanoff is one of the best legislative leaders in the United States,” Clinton wrote.

Colorado’s primary is Aug. 10.