Do As I Say, Not As I Do: Oregon Edition

Up in the Pacific Northwest, things just took a turn for the worse for Oregon Republican Mike Erickson, a pro-life candidate for the open seat in Oregon's 5th Congressional District:

Erickson, a Lake Oswego businessman, is the Republican candidate for the 5th Congressional District and is running on a "pro-life" platform. The charge that he provided money to Tawnya nearly derailed his campaign for the May 20 primary and could hobble his chances in the Nov. 4 general election against state Sen. Kurt Schrader, D-Canby.

Tawnya, now 34, recalled sitting with Erickson in his new Mercedes that January, parked across from the abortion clinic.

"I was bawling so hard I couldn't speak. He looked so sad. He looked like he cared," she said.

"I asked him, 'Are you sure you don't want a baby?' " she said. "He shook his head. I opened the door, got out bawling and crossed the street and walked up to the clinic."

Erickson, 45, said he dated Tawnya "for a couple of months." He told The Oregonian he didn't remember many details about their relationship, including where they met or when they dated. He said she betrayed no emotion during the car ride.

Oregon Right To Life has already declined to endorse Erickson and as Oregonian writer Jeff Mapes alludes here, this story isn't going to help him with the anti-woman Republican base in the 5th District.

You can read the whole article in The Oregonian online here. Erickson's Democratic opponent to succeed Democratic Representative Darlene Hooley is State Senator Kurt Schrader.

A bit of non-political trivia about Mike Erickson: He holds Portland State University's school record of the number of field goals by a place kicker in school history (32).

Given that bit of trivia, I think it's safe to say that Erickson's chances for this election just missed wide to the right!