Erickson without GOP endorsement for now, but still has Party support

With uncertainty about whether Mike Erickson will be the sole GOP candidate wading into District 5 waters, one of the big questions in the days and weeks to come is whether the Republican Party apparatus pledges its full support to Erickson’s campaign.

In the immediate hours after Darlene Hooley made her intentions to retire known, state and national Republican officials said they had no plans to formally endorse Erickson.

“We’re not endorsing,” said Oregon Republican Party Communications Director Brianne Hyder.

“The NRCC does not pre-primary endorse,” wrote National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee Press Secretary Ken Spain in an email.

But for all the denials, there were times Thursday when it seemed the Party was tantalizingly close to throwing its weight behind Erickson.

“We have a strong candidate in Mike Erickson,” Oregon Republican Party chair Vance Day said. “As a successful business owner and a long time community leader, Mike will be an excellent representative for Oregon’s Fifth Congressional District.”

And, as members of both parties conceded, it might make sense for Republicans to give Erickson the nod.

The reason is simple: money.

Erickson, the owner of a shipping company, has demonstrated an ability to self-loan. During his 2006 race against Hooley, Erickson self-funded to the tune of $1.6 million. It has been reported that today Erickson loaned his campaign as much as $340K.

"Mike Erickson is a strong candidate and the fact that he has access to personal resources is coincidental, but surely not frowned upon," said Spain.

The NRCC, which is facing fundraising difficulties, has recruited several wealthy candidates this cycle of who can spend their own money. Republicans reached out to candidates Ed Tinsley, a restaurateur, in New Mexico and businessman James Oberweis in Illinois, to name a few.

Democrats conceded today that a wealthy candidate like Erickson needed to be taken seriously.

But even with the strengths Erickson would bring to the race, some cautioned that the shipping magnate might not yet have the nomination in the bag.

Erickson, after all, has already run for the seat and lost, in 2006. And others – such as former state Republican Party chair Kevin Mannix – could still be interested in jumping in the race.

But, for now, Erickson is the only announced candidate. And that should provide him with plenty of praise from the Party establishment.