NRCC throws Erickson a bone

GOP nominee Mike Erickson has problems.  Problems so serious they may likely preclude any Republican hopes of re-capturing Oregon's fifth congressional district currently held for the past 12 years by Democratic Rep. Darlene Hooley. 

It all started with revelations by his primary opponent, Kevin Mannix, that Erickson paid a former girlfriend to abort their child and then later ran as a staunch pro-life candidate for Congress.  His troubles continued with a recent story that his 2004 "humanitarian" ventures to Cuba were ultimately more vacation related than originally described.  It certainly didn't do his campaign any favors either when Polk County Fair organizers complained about Erickson's inability to follow rules regarding literature distribution on the fair grounds.  Such stories have led even his own fellow Republicans to refuse to endorse his candidacy, particularly incumbents Senator Gordon Smith and Rep. Greg Walden.

So, what hope is left for the wealthy Lake Oswego businessman?  Well, aside from his giant wallet revving up for the fall television campaign wars, it appears there is a small light at the end of the political tunnel.  The National Republican Congressional Committee sent out a press release yesterday attacking Erickson's Democratic opponent Kurt Schrader for taking political contributions from political heavyweight Rep. Charlie Rangel, Chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee.  Rangel is alleged to have avoided paying taxes on rental property he owns in the Dominican Republic.  Now the NRCC has called on Schrader to relinquish the $7000 in campaign contributions he received from Rangel's "various fundraising accounts." 

No mention of Erickson was made in the release and there was no response to inquiries on whether the NRCC will be taking a larger role in Erickson's bid for the open congressional seat, however, it's the first sign of national party help for the embattled Republican nominee since the primary election.  To date the only help Erickson received from the NRCC was a mere $5000 contribution in the last reporting period.  Such support pales in comparison to counterpart Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's $1.2 million television ad buy for Schrader.  But it's a sign of hope.