Mannix follows up on allegations, Erickson remains (relativley) quiet

5th Congressional candidate Mike Erickson continues to remain relatively quiet in the face of opponent Kevin Mannix’s eleventh-hours allegations.

Mannix, for his part, defended his actions in an interview with The Oregonian’s editorial board last night, calling Erickson a “political sociopath.”

The longtime politico also acknowledged that he himself had not verified the accuracy of the allegation but that sources he trusts interviewed the woman and found her credible.

In the campaign’s initial blitz, however, Amy Langdon, Mannix’s campaign manager noted that “the e-mail is verified and sheds light on the character of Mike Erickson who claims he is pro-life, yet he paid for an abortion and left the woman at a clinic.”

The e-mail cited by Mannix was sent in 2006; after the story broke on Monday, Kristi Oetken—author of the e-mail and friend of the young woman in question—sent a follow-up to reporters, reiterating the story. She did not respond to emails from PolitickerOR.com. On Monday night, the Portland Tribune ran a detailed interview with the woman, but declined to provide her identity.

Both candidates are undergoing scrutiny in the wake of the attack. Erickson has denied the allegations but is being forced to defend himself. Mannix is in the spotlight for acting on a possibly untrue rumor, one which was known and unused by Rep. Darlene Hooley, Erickson’s Democratic opponent in 2006.

In addition to his initial denial, Erickson released a statement yesterday, slighting Mannix’s character.

“Kevin Mannix’s smear tactics are the last gasps of a desperate candidate who is sinking under the weight of his long record of raising taxes. Time has run out on Mannix running for office with nothing but lies and deception. All the voters know about Mannix is his dirty politics and shady financing.”