Posted on 08/11/2004 11:02:05 AM PDT by taxcontrol
Democratic state Attorney General Ken Salazar and Republican brewery executive Pete Coors won landslide victories in Tuesday's primaries to set up one of the nation's most anticipated U.S. Senate races.
Salazar leveled the insurgent campaign of Mike Miles, a Colorado Springs educator, and Coors crushed his opponent, former congressman and conservative firebrand Bob Schaffer.
Coors, a first-time political candidate, now faces Salazar, a rare Democrat who has won two statewide races in Colorado during the past decade.
The race commands national attention because it will help determine which party controls the Senate. It also could affect the outcome of the presidential race in the state, experts say.
"You are going to see an extremely high-profile and expensive race," said John Straayer, a political science professor at Colorado State University. "Personalities and money are going to be flowing in from out of state."
The candidates savored their primary victories but quickly focused on each other and the Nov. 2 general election.
"For the last couple of weeks, I've been thanking God for such a tough race," Coors said Tuesday night at his rally at Coors Field in Denver. "It toughens me up for what's ahead. And tonight I thank God for this great victory."
Coors then attacked Salazar. "He wants to raise your taxes," he said, echoing a charge President Bush and others have used against Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry. "I want to cut them. ... You know how to spend it better than our federal government does."
Salazar, with his thumbs up, smiling broadly and surrounded by his family, took the stage at his victory party at Bogey's on the Park, 2500 York St.
"Thank you for believing in an America of hope and progress for all people," he said. "America's best days are ahead, and we see those days in our children."
Salazar called on Coors to join him in "asking national attack groups to stay off Colorado's airwaves." Coors on Tuesday said, "If (Salazar supporters) are going to attack me, I'm going to attack back."
Coors and Salazar will get national support, said Christine Burtt, a Denver-based Republican consultant. "We don't want to lose this seat because it could mean losing control of the Senate. And if we lose the Senate seat in Colorado, we stand a good chance of losing Colorado for Bush."
That's because Salazar digs into independent and moderate Republican voters who might not rush to the polls just for Kerry.
"Support for Kerry is not for Kerry the person, but opposition to Bush," Burtt said. "Salazar becomes the pennant-holder for the party, the cause célèbre who brings voters to the polls. And they'll say, 'Since I'm here pulling the lever for Salazar, I'll pull the lever for Kerry."'
The losers in Tuesday's primary pledged to support their former opponents. Miles said he would meet with Salazar.
Schaffer, whose backers ran blistering advertisements criticizing Coors for supporting a lower legal drinking age, pledged to support Coors' candidacy and urged his supporters to join him. "Pete Coors is a great candidate and he ran a great campaign," Schaffer said. "I'm asking all of you who worked so hard not to go home and watch this debate, but to be a part of it. Make your voices heard. Do for Pete Coors what you did for me."
Schaffer plans to join Coors on a Front Range bus tour today. Gov. Bill Owens and the National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman, Sen. George Allen of Virginia, will also be on board.
National Democratic leaders also are rushing to Colorado to show their support. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chairman, Sen. Jon Corzine of New Jersey, plans to attend a fundraiser in Englewood for Salazar on Thursday.
Post / Kathryn Scott Osler Ken Salazar accepts the Democratic nomination for United States Senate in front of a room full of supporters at Bogey's Restaurant in Denver. Coors and Salazar dominated the polling across the state.
Miles, who lives in the Colorado Springs area, ran strong only in the southwest corner of the state. Miles did not carry his home county, El Paso, and Salazar piled up hefty margins in the populous Denver metro area.
Schaffer carried several counties, but, other than Larimer, where he lives, all were small.
In the conservative stronghold of El Paso County, where Schaffer supporters advertised heavily, he lost by 14 percentage points. Coors swamped Schaffer in the Denver metro area.
Coors and Salazar are already setting a pace for the most expensive statewide election in history. As of mid-July, Salazar had collected $2.9 million in campaign contributions, while Coors had $2.6 million, including a $400,000 personal loan to his campaign.
Straayer said he expects Coors to tone down his comments on socially conservative causes that were the focus of the primary campaign. Instead, he is likely to focus on business-oriented issues.
"Coors will talk as little as he can about the social agenda," Straayer said. "He will stick to matters like taxes."
In an interview Tuesday night, Coors cited his business experience as helping him salve the wounds opened during the primary.
"I've been in business for long enough to know what it's like to compete," Coors said. "What I'm good at is bringing people together."
At the polling place in the Sacred Heart Parish School in Durango, one voter said she was watching the big picture.
"I'm mostly voting to get Bush and Bush-like people out now, starting with the Senate, and later," said 28-year-old Mindy Linch.
But in the Democratic stronghold of east Denver's Park Hill neighborhood Tuesday afternoon, some liked the brewer.
"I think Pete Coors is an interesting guy to get in the Senate," said resident Rene Eustace. "He's a businessman and probably knows more about finances than most politicians. Plus, I like his beer."
WOO-HOO! Time to email Pete and congratulate him.
Thanks!
I and the misses voted for Bob. But let bygones be bygones. Mr Coors, how can I help?
It's gonna be a tough campaign. Salazar is well liked statewide and has serious financial backing form the DNC and the liberal establishment. I'm sure PresBush will be in Colorado before too long, standing side by side with Pete Coors.
>>>What the article does not tell you is the total number of DEM vs Republican voters who voted in the primaries. Dems turned out a little over 233,000 while Republicans turned out a tad more than 329,000. I see this as a good sign - a motivated GOP base.
There are roughly 150K more registered Republicans in Colorado then there are Librats!
Pete...if ya wanna win...just get the Twins out on the trail for you. 65-35, guaranteed.
Oh, you bet. Salazar seems like one to go dirty.
Well, %^&*$#. Worth a shot. Are TV stations in CO still going to be able to play commercials for Coors beer and Coors lite? Would that be a violation?
Don't have the exact figures. Check with your local county GOP office.
Well then, how has Salazar won previous statewide elections?
Republican 1,049,607
Independent 923,532
Democrat 863,963
These numbers came from a Denver Post or RM News article in June. THe nembers were according to them from the spring.
He's an appealing candidate and well liked throughout the state. Colorado is a conservative state and Salazar ran as a less partisan Democrat. I think in the general election, that will change.
drink more Coors beer.
"Coors will talk as little as he can about the social agenda," Straayer said. "He will stick to matters like taxes."
This, of course, reflects the standard PoliSci professor's belief that social conservatism is a fig leaf used only to further fiscal conservatism--a bone tossed to the religious right. Alas, more often than not, it's a justified belief. I hope Coors proves this guy wrong. Social conservatism is extremely disrespected among many young Republicans, if CU-Boulder's College Republicans are any indication.
Incidentally, I've been reading up on Coors' wife, Marilyn, because I've heard great things about her. She's an assistant professor at the CU Health Sciences center and has written a book analyzing ethical approaches to genetic engineering. The perfect foil to Kerry's convention one-liner "Democrats are the party of SCIENCE!"
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