OR-05: A blow to Mike Erickson's campaign

[MarkWarner08]

It seems that the Farm Bureau, which rarely endorses Democrats, is favoring the Democrat over purported cocaine user and abortion provider Republican Mike Erickson. This race started out at the top of the GOP takeover list, but once the the GOP Primary bore the less electable Republican, many prognosticators downgrades this contest.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2008/06/in_blow_to_erickson_farm_burea.html

[Alcon]

purported cocaine user and abortion provider Republican Mike Erickson.

Was that his occupation on his statement of candidacy? 

[Verily]

purported cocaine user and abortion provider Republican Mike Erickson.

Was that his occupation on his statement of candidacy? 

Pretty much, given what the primary was all about. The Republicans had a shot here and threw it away by running an absolutely disastrous candidate. Erickson may not even break 40%.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Didn't this guy run last time? Why didn't this stuff come out then?

[Verily]

Didn't this guy run last time? Why didn't this stuff come out then?

Because the race wasn't potentially competitive with Darlene Hooley there (even though it did end up reasonably close).

[Alcon]

Didn't this guy run last time? Why didn't this stuff come out then?

Because the race wasn't potentially competitive with Darlene Hooley there (even though it did end up reasonably close).

Extremely polarized CD, probably the most in Oregon.

[MarkWarner08]

Didn't this guy run last time? Why didn't this stuff come out then?

Because the race wasn't potentially competitive with Darlene Hooley there (even though it did end up reasonably close).

Extremely polarized CD, probably the most in Oregon.

Yeah. Even Brian Boquist won 43% against Hooley. It's kind of similar to IN-07 in that the GOP candidate is a near-lock for at least 43-44%, but that floor is also usually a ceiling for that candidate.

[Mr.Phips]

Didn't this guy run last time? Why didn't this stuff come out then?

Because the race wasn't potentially competitive with Darlene Hooley there (even though it did end up reasonably close).

Extremely polarized CD, probably the most in Oregon.

Yeah. Even Brian Boquist won 43% against Hooley. It's kind of similar to IN-07 in that the GOP candidate is a near-lock for at least 43-44%, but that floor is also usually a ceiling for that candidate.

Wasnt Boquist also a state Senator though?

[MarkWarner08]

Didn't this guy run last time? Why didn't this stuff come out then?

Because the race wasn't potentially competitive with Darlene Hooley there (even though it did end up reasonably close).

Extremely polarized CD, probably the most in Oregon.

Yeah. Even Brian Boquist won 43% against Hooley. It's kind of similar to IN-07 in that the GOP candidate is a near-lock for at least 43-44%, but that floor is also usually a ceiling for that candidate.

Wasnt Boquist also a state Senator though?

Not when he first ran back in 2000. He was a fringe conservative from the wrong part of the district back then. IIRC, he wasn't elected to public office until after he stopped running against Hooley.

[MarkWarner08]

According to PolitickerOR, Schrader hasn't been endorsed by the  Oregon Trial Layers Association, a typically stalwart pro-Democratic group. It seems that the independent-minded Schrader didn't buckle to the special interest group's demands and the OTLA even funded one of his primary opponents.

It's odd to see the Farm Bureau supporting the Democrat and the Trial Lawyers supporting nobody.

[Conan]

Who actually gave this district good odds at flipping? In my book, it still wasn't going to happen this year.

[Spaghetti Cat]

If we had Jackie Winters as our candidate, this could have been competative.......

[MarkWarner08]

If we had Jackie Winters as our candidate, this could have been competative.......

What's so special about Jackie Winters? Besides her age and skin color, there's nothing remarkable about her.

[Alcon]

If we had Jackie Winters as our candidate, this could have been competative.......

What's so special about Jackie Winters? Besides her age and skin color, there's nothing remarkable about her.

She serves up (or used to?) damn fine ribs. 

[Spaghetti Cat]

If we had Jackie Winters as our candidate, this could have been competative.......

What's so special about Jackie Winters? Besides her age and skin color, there's nothing remarkable about her.

She sure as Hell is a more qualified and better candidate than Erickson.  She is a successful Republican state senator in a CD that leans slightly Democratic.  She definitely would've given Schrader a run for his money.

[MarkWarner08]

If we had Jackie Winters as our candidate, this could have been competative.......

What's so special about Jackie Winters? Besides her age and skin color, there's nothing remarkable about her.

She sure as Hell is a more qualified and better candidate than Erickson.  She is a successful Republican state senator in a CD that leans slightly Democratic.  She definitely would've given Schrader a run for his money.

I'm impressed that a Keystone State resident would know so much about an Oregon State Senator. While I disagree with your characterization of her as "successful," (I can't think of a single major bill she's co-sponsored), I do agree she would've been a tougher candidate  than Mike Erickson.