DENVER--U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Springfield) spoke enthusiastically on Wednesday about congressional nominee State Sen. Kurt Schrader’s (D-Canby) chances of holding onto outgoing Rep. Darlene Hooley’s (D-West Linn) seat because of a continuous line of controversies surrounding Mike Erickson (R-Lake Oswego).

“Their candidate has shot himself in both feet, and God knows where he is aiming next,” DeFazio said.

DeFazio was addressing Oregon’s delegation at the Democratic National Convention a couple weeks after controversy surrounded Erickson over a trip to Cuba he took that he said was a “humanitarian mission.” Trip operators described the experience to The Oregonian as more of a vacation.

DeFazio also spoke about Obama’s chances of winning the election, and though he was optimistic, he warned voters that they needed to make sure that Obama’s margin of victory nationwide made sure that the outcome of the vote was certain.

“I’m pretty sure Barack Obama will win the popular vote, but the electoral vote is another thing,” DeFazio said. “We have to have a margin in Oregon and across the country that makes the result undeniable.”