Salazar leads in Colorado poll

DENVER, April 27 (UPI) -- Democrat Ken Salazar is leading two Republicans in the race for the U.S. Senate in Colorado, a poll published Tuesday indicates.

Salazar, the Colorado attorney general, would beat former Congressman Bob Schaffer or brewing executive Pete Coors, according to the poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies for the Rocky Mountain News and KCNC-TV, Denver.

Salazar bested Schaffer 48-37 percent, or by 11 percentage points, and Coors 52-36 percent, or by 16 percentage points. The poll of 600 registered voters was conducted last week. The margin of error was 4 points.

Salazar, Schaffer and Coors are considered the major candidates to succeed retiring Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a Republican. Salazar has no major primary opposition but the GOP contest may be heated between two well-known candidates.

Schaffer entered the Republican primary first and Coors jumped in about two weeks ago. Republican Gov. Bill Owens, who might have been the most formidable candidate, decided not to enter the race.