As top Republicans began lining up behind gubernatorial hopeful Scott McInnis, Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter derided his opponent’s adoption of a new conservative agenda that debuts today and defended his own record on economic issues. Both State Sen. Minority Leader Josh Penryand former Congressman Tom Tancredo exited the race after gaining assurances that McInnis would hold to a new conservative platform that all three helped develop along with other GOP leaders who hoped to avoid previous election-cycle mistakes by uniting the party early, The Denver Post reports.