I would be very wary of Owens. I voted for him twice, but I held my nose the second time. He's a pretty face who presents him self well, but I believe he has issues just under the surface that would make him a bad risk for the GOP in 2008.
Colorado has a complicated issue regarding its budget and various incompatible state amendments. It's a real mess that needs to be addressed, but Owens has shown zero leadership even though it's a train wreck for Colorado if nothing is done. I believe he much prefers to take high profile stances on "easy" issues while avoiding the real problems a leader (like GWB) will take on. Owens loves to appoint commissions to look into things -- like the current flap over CU football.
Owens is stubborn and has a mean streak that doesn't jibe with his public personna. He's appointed some real incompetents to state posts that make me wonder about his jugdement.
He's quite popular in Colorado, but I would be surprised if he could survive the scrutiny of a national presdential run. Frankly, I was hoping he would move on to the Senate where his genuinely conservative views could be useful despite his weaknesses. To be honest, I hadn't heard the "Clinton problem" rumors until I read this thread.
On the Senate topic, I think Salazar would have the best chance to win for the 'rats. For some reason, the usual troop of Denver/Boulder wackos seems to be sitting this one out. I doubt if Tancredo would even survive the primary. He just carries too much baggage. The Republicans mentioned in this thread by other FR Coloradoans can win, but none of them have the name recognition that Owens has.
Elway for Senator? An easy win two or three years ago, but he's had some business troubles (who hasn't?) and has gone through a divorce. Elway is the best quarterback I ever saw. He has an almost pathelogical drive to win. I'm not sure how he would fit in with the current crop of GOP Senators, to whom winning seems to be well down on the list of priorities. I think Elway would be a great governor, and if politics is in his future, I hope he holds his fire until '06 when Owens is term-limited out.