Over before it began?

In the race for the 5th CD, Kurt Schrader recently received lucrative endorsements from Oregon AFL-CIO, AFSCME and the Oregon Education Association,  unions with public employees who conveniently allow Schrader's Senate mid-term position as co-chair of the powerful Ways and Means committee in the Oregon legislature to overcome his ardent support for PERS reform back in 2003.

Could such support mean the beginning of the end for Schrader's Democratic primary opponent Steve Marks? Schrader has one of the lowest rated union voting records among his fellow Democrats (even voting against labors precious Majority Sign-Up bill), but seems to keep locking up labor support regardless. Without union support it is unlikely Marks will be able to on what may be as much as $1 million of Schrader's own personal wealth he plans to use to lock up the nomination.

The Marks response? Debate, debate, debate.