Oregon News by Daniel Trudeau

Mike Erickson -- the Republican candidate in the 5th Congressional District -- called an Oregonian story that claimed he lied about the nature a 2004 trip to Cuba a "smear tactic" during a press conference Monday

In its story, the paper said Erickson (R-Lake Oswego) used the trip to purchase Cuban cigars and party. Erickson has said the trip was a humanitarian effort to deliver medical aid to impoverished Cubans.