Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon Right to Life is calling on Republican Mike Erickson to drop his bid for Congress. Erickson is locked in a tough battle for the 5th District nomination. April Baer reports that he's still keeping a low profile.

This week, Erickson's opponent, Kevin Mannix unleashed a two year old rumor that Erickson paid for a girlfriend's abortion.

Oregon Right to Life learned of the story when Erickson made his first congressional run two years ago,  talked to him about it and decided not to withdraw their previous endorsement.

Gayle Atteberry is the group's executive director. She says it would have been inappropriate to make the story public.

Gayle Attebury: "We knew it was not our story to tell. We had no business flaunting this woman out for political gains at that time."

Attebury says Erickson confirmed  he'd given the woman a ride to a doctor's office, but claimed not to know she was ending a pregnancy.

Oregon Right to Life is supporting Kevin Mannix in the 5th.

Since the story broke, Erickson's bought TV ads refuting the charges. He has not responded to repeated requests for an interview.