Coors, Salazar square off in Senate race

DENVER, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Colorado voters have selected Democratic Attorney General Ken Salazar and Republican brewery executive Pete Coors to run for the U.S. Senate.

Each man won his party's nomination in landslide victories in Tuesday's primary, the Denver Post reported.

The Colorado senate race is closely watched nationally because the outcome may play a role in determining which party controls the Senate.

Coors, a novice at politics, defeated former Rep. Bob Schaffer. Salazar, the victor in two previous statewide races, bested Mike Miles, a Colorado Springs educator.

John Straayer, a political science professor at Colorado State University, told the Post the race for the Colorado Senate seat would be very high profile and expensive.

The race was set up by the unexpected announceemnt of Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., last March that he would not seek re-election.