Mannix concedes to Erickson but won’t endorse him

Although last night Kevin Mannix would not let hope die, pledging to wait until every vote in the 5th Congressional District's Republican primary was counted, he conceded this morning to Mike Erickson. But, according to his campaign, Mannix will not endorse Erickson for the general election.

Erickson received 48.35 percent of the district's votes, according to the Secretary of State's unofficial results, while Mannix, got 46.05 percent.

Erickson's Campaign Manager, Kevin Harvey told PolitickerOR.com that he knows "Mike feels very good" about the win and said he thinks Erickson has a "really good shot" in the general.

Mannix jumped into the campaign months after Erickson, spurred by U.S. Rep. Darlene Hooley's decision to retire.

Announcing only in the first week of March did not provide much time for the veteran Oregon politico to campaign. Erickson who even back in March said he would do whatever it took to win, followed up on his promise, pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into his own campaign.

"We estimate that we were outspent five to one. We were not able to overcome the money Erickson put behind his distorted tax messages," Amy Langdon, Mannix's campaign manager said.

The self-funding heightened after Mannix accused his opponent of some personal improprieties last week, but earned the messengers as much scrutiny as the subject.

"Voters voiced their opinion on the dirty politics" Harvey said, referencing allegations by the Mannix campaign that Erickson paid for an ex-girlfriend's abortion in 2000.

The heated rhetoric from the primary campaign may also be behind Mannix's decision not to endorse Erickson.

"Mannix will not be endorsing Erickson. He will also not be endorsing Schrader," campaign manager Amy Langdon said in an e-mail to PolitickerOR.com. "Mannix has told the press that he cannot support a dishonest man."

Harvey still noted it was "disappointing that Mannix won't stand behind Mike" and that the decision would not be good for "party unison."

Asked if Mannix's refusal to endorse Erickson would hurt him in the general, Harvey stated that he didn't "believe it's gonna hurt Mike's chances at all."

Langdon disagrees. "Erickson will still have to deal with the character issue" Langdon said in an e-mail. "Mannix has told the press that he believes Erickson's chances of winning are slim in November."

Erickson will have a battle on his hands no matter what. Democrat Kurt Schrader, backed by investments from a family trust inherited after his grandfather passed away, has also proven willing to self-fund, although he has repeatedly declined to discuss his personal finances.

Mannix plans to return to his community activities, ballot measures and policy activities, according to his campaign.

Politicker.com's Danny Reiter contributed to this article.