Colo., Ga. Primaries Set Stage

Coors, Majette Win Spots On Ballot In Key Races For Senate Control

(AP)  Brewery heir Peter Coors won a bruising Republican primary for Colorado's open Senate seat, beating a conservative former congressman to set up a high-stakes showdown with the Democratic attorney general this fall.

In another election Tuesday, in Georgia, first-term Congresswoman Denise Majette crushed a millionaire businessman to win a Democratic runoff for the seat being vacated by retiring Georgia Sen. Zell Miller. She became the first black candidate ever nominated to the U.S. Senate in Georgia.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Coors had 170,581 votes, or 61 percent, and former Rep. Bob Schaffer had 110,692 votes, or 39 percent. On the Democratic side, Attorney General Ken Salazar had 144,953 votes, or 73 percent, and educator Mike Miles had 52,362 votes, or 27 percent.

The winner in November will take the seat currently held by retiring Republican Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

Democrats believe the race represents a golden opportunity to gain a seat in the Senate, which the Republicans control by a slim margin. National Democrats are hoping Salazar will attract Hispanics to the polls, possibly giving presidential candidate John Kerry a boost in November elections.

Political experts say the race could be among the most expensive in Colorado history, with the two major parties expected to spend some US$6 million each.

In Georgia, Majette will be a heavy underdog against Republican Congressman Johnny Isakson in a state that has trended Republican in recent years.

Majette, 49, easily defeated the well-heeled Cliff Oxford, a 40-year-old technology company founder who was recruited to run by former President Jimmy Carter. With 99 precincts reporting, Majette had 59 percent, or 160,913 votes, compared with Oxford's 41 percent, or 109,589 votes.

Congressional races also were on the ballot Tuesday in Georgia, Colorado and Connecticut.

In Colorado, two Republicans were in a virtual dead heat in a five-way primary to succeed six-term Republican Congressman Scott McInnis. The winner will face state Congressman John Salazar, the attorney general's brother, who was unopposed for the Democratic nomination in the 3rd District, a vast stretch of southern and western Colorado about the size of Florida.

In a runoff for the seat held by retiring Georgia Congressman Mac Collins, state legislator Lynn Westmoreland defeated Dylan Glenn, a young, telegenic candidate who was bidding to become the first black Republican congressman since Oklahoma's J.C. Watts retired in 2002.

In Connecticut, former Norwich city councilman Jim Sullivan won the Democratic nomination to take on Republican Congressman Rob Simmons, who has been targeted by national Democrats for defeat in November.

Democrats must gain 12 seats to win control of the House.