Owens switches Senate endorsement to Coors

Denver Post ^ | April 12, 2004 | Steven K. Paulson

[Columbine]

Republican Gov. Bill Owens today withdrew his endorsement of conservative former U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer in Colorado's wild U.S. Senate race and threw his support behind Peter Coors, the deep-pocketed political novice who runs the Coors beer empire.

Coors is expected to formally announce his candidacy on Tuesday.

Schaffer said Owens told him the bad news in a brief telephone call.

"He said he was sorry and I told him that I forgive him," Schaffer said. He said Owens listed his complaints, but Schaffer refused to disclose what was said.

[Columbine]

It was obvious last week that Owens was going to do this.

Guess I'll just keep an open mind and hear what both candidates have to say.

[ambrose]

Money talks...

[billorites]

Hmmm, how to choose?

[KQQL]

@

[goldstategop]

Coors beer is as rugged as Colorado. The Coors family has been known for its long time generous support for GOP and conservative causes.

[KQQL]

plus shaffer polls against salazar were really bad.

[donozark]

That's a good one. Bet 75% of Freepers here today never heard of Schaefer Beer. Hell, I've barfed Schafer's through both nostrils!

[sinkspur]

The Coors family has a reputation for supporting conservative causes.

The GOP needs to keep this seat, and it needs a guy with deep pockets to do it.

[azcap]

This is good news. Schaefer is agood guy but Coors has the money and name to win. It is shame that the GOP has not managed to bring forth a high profile self funded candidate like this in Nevada and Nebraska. The electorate in those states are going to relect out of touch Democrats for no other reason than the GOP couldn't field a candidate.

[nygoose]

You must have been having more than one.

[billorites]

Hell, I've barfed Schafer's through both nostrils!

Sounds like you know well their classic slogan!

"Schaefer is the one beer to have when you’re having more than one."

[A Jovial Cad]

They had Schaefer's even up to the time when I was in high school in the mid-80's; I remember because I barfed a fair amount of it out of my nostrils, too, at keg parties (it's low price made it the keg of choice for a bunch of underage teenagers, naturally). Coors, on the other hand, was what we called "Cold Gold." You only, ahem, "acquired" Coors if you where either rolling in the dough, or trying to impress someone (usually a *female* someone, of course). Those two images juxtaposed together in this thread sure brought some memories back. But Schaefer's isn't available today; don't know that I remember when I quit seeing it in the stores. Have had too much "Cold Gold" in the intervening years, I guess, LOL.
Still, "Senator Coors" sure does have a nice ring to it.

[DLfromthedesert]

Schaffer was awesome in the House. Good on conservative issues, honest, great values.

[RandallFlagg]

Coors beer is as rugged as Colorado. The Coors family has been known for its long time generous support for GOP and conservative causes.

Plus, they hired ME! That's gotta count for something!

[Columbine]

I wonder if every thread posted about Peter Coors will be about beer instead of politics.

Maybe he has too much name recognition.

[donozark]

Schaefer's is still brewed, although not in NY or Penn. In Texas, by Pabst. Not a big seller...

[donozark]

Schaeffer/Coors, either way, a Republican win, right? I can't imagine the seat going back to Dems. Of course Campbell was a Dem before he saw the light...

[deport]

Apparently been ongoing for sometime....... Note: Bio.... Board of Director for H.J. Heinz Co......

Owens: Peter Coors To Run For Senate

Announcement Made At Wildfire Briefing

POSTED: 11:27 am MDT April 7, 2004

UPDATED: 12:06 pm MDT April 7, 2004

DENVER -- Gov. Bill Owens said Wednesday that the chairman of the Coors brewing dynasty, Peter Coors, will be a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate this fall.

"I talked to him an hour and a half ago and he is going to run," Owens said after a briefing on the state's wildfire season. "I think Pete Coors would make an outstanding senator."

Coors, 57 (pictured, left), did not immediately return a message left at his offices in Golden. He is chairman of Coors Brewing Co. and Adolph Coors Co.

His candidacy would throw a twist into an already wild race. Former Rep. Bob Schaffer has been the only high-profile GOP candidate in the race to replace retiring Republican Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, but he has not won the support of top party officials.

Owens, who rejected a Senate bid earlier this year, said he had told Schaffer he would offer his support.

"I'll need to talk to Bob Schaffer and make sure he's going to stay in the race, and I'll make a judgment between these two candidates shortly," Owens said.

The top Democrat in the race is Attorney General Ken Salazar.

Coors Biography

Coors is a scion of a family business that spans more than a century. He is the great-grandson of Adolph Coors, who founded the Golden brewery in 1873.

Coors has been chairman of Coors Brewing Co. and chairman of Adolph Coors Co. since 2002. Prior to that, he was vice chairman and CEO for Coors Brewing Co.

Coors serves on the board of directors for U.S. Bancorp Inc., H.J. Heinz Co. and the Energy Corp. of America. He is a trustee of the Adolph Coors Foundation and the Castle Rock Foundation. He also has served as a trustee and member of the executive board of the Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and as a member of the National Western Stock Show Association executive committee.

Coors is a member of the International Chapter of Young Presidents Organization and the University of Denver Daniels School of Business Advisory Board.

[deport]

High profile name in the CO Republican Senate primary.

[ClintonBeGone]

Coors will be good. He's got a great name, money and I know the company's been on the union hit list for ages. The drawback is they are a pro-homo company.