As Jeff Mapes so poignantly articulates, "farmers are to Republicans what trial lawyers are to Democrats."  So, when Republican Mike Erickson lost the Oregon Farm Bureau endorsement to Democrat Kurt Schrader, it was a huge loss for the GOP businessman.  But what about those trial lawyers?

The Oregon Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) is a group of liberal plaintiffs attorneys who tend to donate consistently and generously to Democratic candidates across the state.  But somehow their checkbooks have skipped the Schrader campaign this political season....so far.  As a legislator in both the Oregon House and Senate, Schrader continually rebuffed OTLA supported bills and measures, causing a few of the organization's more prominent members to dry up any sizeable contributions to Schrader's campaign. 

OTLA angst for Schrader comes as no surprise to the Democrat.  The organization tried to take him out back in his first run for the Senate when they largely funded then-State Rep. Kathy Lowe, but to no avail.  Now, many politicos are watching closely to see what OTLA does in this open seat race to replace retiring Rep. Darlene Hooley, a politician OTLA has helped elect from day one.  It is unlikely OTLA will jump Democratic ship and throw their support behind Erickson, however, in a race where Schrader will have to compete with Erickson's self-funded multi-million dollar escapade, he will need all the support he can get.