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U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts snagged the endorsement Monday of a tea party political action committee while independent Senate candidate Greg Orman released a commercial featuring an endorsement by Kansas' Republican insurance commissioner.

Taylor Budowich, executive director of the Tea Party Express, moved to back Roberts' re-election despite previously advocating for the senator's GOP primary opponent Milton Wolf. Roberts prevailed in the August race, but damaged relations with tea party activists in Kansas.

"Voters know exactly where Sen. Roberts stands on every key issue, and they can rest assured their interests are being represented in the upper chamber," Budowich said in Wichita.

In February, Tea Party Express PAC chairman Amy Kremer said the California organization favored Wolf because he wasn't among "career politicians who have buried future generations under crippling debt" and that Wolf would provide the "kind of conservative leadership that has been largely absent for far too long in D.C."

Orman's campaign began broadcasting a 30-second spot highlighting support from Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger, who is a Republican not seeking re-election in November.

Praeger said Kansas voters would be best served by embracing Orman rather than the three-term incumbent.

"We see such gridlock in Washington they won't work together," Praeger said in the ad. "I'm ready for a fresh face, someone who will represent the best interests of Kansas."

"Greg Orman wants to make a difference, finding innovative ways to solve problems. Being an independent gives him the opportunity to find ways to work with both sides of the aisle to end the gridlock," she said.

Praeger was among Republicans who expressed support for the federal health care overhaul signed into law by President Barack Obama.

Orman and Roberts have tangled during the run up to the general election on the issue of health insurance reform.

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Roberts bags tea party endorsement; Orman accepts GOP Praeger's backing