USA, Denver: Peter H. Coors, the head of the Coors brewing empire, is entering the race for an open Colorado Senate seat, Gov. Bill Owens said on April 7, according to Associated Press. A Coors candidacy would set up a GOP primary fight against conservative former Rep. Bob Schaffer and the possibility of a general election battle against Democrat Ken Salazar, the state's attorney general.

The 57-year-old Coors, who has appeared in national television commercials for the beer, is chairman of Coors Brewing Co. and Adolph Coors Co. He did not return messages left at his offices in Golden. The Colorado race is closely watched because Republicans hold a 51-48 Senate majority, with one Democratic-leaning independent. The election will fill the seat being vacated by retiring GOP Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell. "I talked to him an hour and a half ago and he is going to run," Owens said. "I think Pete Coors would make an outstanding senator."

09 April, 2004