Topeka ? Gov. Bill Graves said Friday that he expected to meet early next week with fellow Republican Tim Shallenburger about his gubernatorial race.

Graves is a moderate and Shallenburger, a conservative. The two have not met since the Aug. 6 primary, and Graves has refused to discuss whether he will endorse Shallenburger, the state treasurer.

“We’re going to get together face-to-face and have a good visit, and we’ll see what comes from there,” Graves told reporters.

Asked whether he has any conditions for an endorsement, Graves said, “At this point, no comment is the comment.”

Shallenburger spokesman Bob Murray wouldn’t speculate on what might be discussed at the meeting, but added, “We’ve been hoping for it a long time. We’ve been looking forward to it.”

Neither Graves, who is barred from seeking a third term, nor Murray could say which day the meeting would occur.

Graves also backed away from earlier criticism directed at both Shallenburger and Democratic rival Kathleen Sebelius, the insurance commissioner. Graves had said neither had a realistic plan for dealing with the state’s budget problems.

On Friday, he said: “I believe that both of the major party candidates grasp the magnitude of the problem. I think figuring out how to comment on that in the context of a political campaign is just difficult to do.”

The governor’s slowness in endorsing Shallenburger is notable; other moderates like U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts and U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran were quick to voice their support. Graves skipped a Republican “unity” breakfast the day after the primary.

Lt. Gov. Gary Sherrer has said he wouldn’t endorse Shallenburger unless he backed away from a promise not to increase taxes and pledged to support aid to public schools, even if higher taxes were necessary. Shallenburger said he wouldn’t do that.

Shallenburger has said he believed many state agencies could trim money from their budget. He also has suggested eliminating the state’s motor pool and combating welfare fraud to save money.

Sebelius has said she would initiate a top-to-bottom review of government to find savings. She has yet to say exactly how the review would be conducted or how quickly, or how much savings there might be.