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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (38443)	4/8/2004 12:25:17 AM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 793955

I have no idea how Coors will come across as a candidate. I know he is very conservative, and a magnate for hate from the Gay left. But there are no deeper pockets in Colorado. Beer Magnate Peter Coors to Run for U.S. Senate By REUTERS - NYT Filed at 6:01 p.m. ET DENVER (Reuters) - Brewing magnate Peter Coors will join the Republican race to replace the party's retiring U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in Colorado, a state key to retaining control of the U.S. Senate, the governor announced on Wednesday. The announcement by Republican Gov. Bill Owens about Coors, chairman of Golden, Colorado-based Coors Brewing Co., came as a surprise and set up another competitive Republican primary in states with open Senate seats. Coors, whose family has given millions to various conservative causes, will face former Rep. Bob Schaffer. Schaffer, who announced his candidacy last month, left the U.S. House of Representatives in 2003 to fulfill his term-limit promise. His spokeswoman did not return calls for comment. ``I think Pete Coors would make an outstanding senator,'' said Owens, who has already said he would back Schaffer. ``I need to talk to Bob Schaffer to make sure he's going to stay in the race,'' he said. ``I'll make a judgment between these two candidates shortly.'' Since early March when Campbell, the only Native American in the U.S. Congress, said he would not seek a third term, it has been a roller coaster ride in the Rocky Mountain state to see who would replace him. The retirement of a popular senator gave Democrats a lift in their battle to try to regain control of the Senate, which Republicans barely control with 51 out of 100 seats. In an effort to avert a bitter party primary fight, Democrats have pretty much settled on state Attorney General Ken Salazar as their candidate, a leading Hispanic vote getter and the only Democrat to hold state-wide office. Coors, 57, great grandson of company founder and German immigrant Adolph Coors, was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, attending Phillips Exeter Academy. He graduated from Cornell University and received a master's degree from the University of Denver. SHAFFER EXPECTED TO STAY IN While he has been a businessman all his adult life, he is well known for his nationally televised beer ads, in which he poses as an outdoorsman in a rustic setting. The Coors family has a long history of backing conservative causes and some liberals and labor leaders have for years boycotted Coors beer. ``I don't think you can put labels on anyone,'' said Colorado Republican Party Chairman Ted Halaby. ``A primary would allow the candidates to communicate their political philosophy to the electorate,'' he added, saying he expects Schaffer to stay in the race. But Chris Gates, chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party, does expect the Coors family ideology to be an issue. ``I don't have any doubt that it will be a part of the campaign,'' he said. Gov. Owens had been expected to run and surprised everyone when he said last month he would not enter the race, citing family reasons. Other high-profile potential candidates also decided not to run. Finally, Schaffer, a conservative, stepped up. While, Democratic prospects have improved in Colorado, they still face a tough challenge gaining seats across the country. Five southern Democratic senators are retiring in an region that is becoming increasingly Republican. Democrats also hope competitive Republican primaries in Pennsylvania, Florida, Oklahoma and elsewhere, could hurt the eventual winner and make him more vulnerable in November. They might now add Colorado to that list. Owens made the announcement about Coors during a news conference about wildfire preparations for the state. ``I talked to Pete Coors an hour and a half ago,'' the governor said. ``He is going to run for the U.S. Senate seat, as a Republican.'' Copyright 2004 Reuters Ltd.