OR-5: Schrader says Erickson has a commitment problem

Congressional candidate Kurt Schrader (D-Canby) blasted his Republican opponent Mike Erickson (R-Lake Oswego) Monday night for Erickson’s refusal to commit to debate appearances.

According to a release from the Scrader campaign, the Keizer Chamber of Commerce had to cancel Wednesday’s debate because they could not get a firm commitment from Erickson.

This is the second debate that had to be canceled because of Erickson’s lack of commitment. The first was a debate at the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce, which was canceled last month.

"My opponent Mike Erickson has been hiding behind mudslinging personal attacks and refuses to debate me where voters have a real opportunity to hear his ideas," Schrader said in a statement.  "I am more interested in focusing on finding common sense solutions for Oregon's future."

Erickson campaign manager Jeff Harvey said that they called the Keizer Chamber of Commerce to let them know they would not be in attendance. He said that as election cycle has heated up, Erickson has received multiple invitiations every day, and cannot be everywhere at once.

 "Mike has been to six forums or debates," Harvey said. He also noted that at a couple of those events, Schrader sent his wife and Clackamas County Commissioner Marta Schrader in his place.

But it's not just debates that Erickson has been missing. According to the Salem Statesman Journal, he missed out on his editorial board meeting with the paper. The Statesman Journal ended up endorsing Schrader.

Schrader also urged Erickson to commit to a televised debate on KGW so that voters could see the two candidates side by side.Harvey said that Erickson was considering the offer, and would have a firm answer to the debate by the end of the week.