Alaska Dems Call On Stevens To Resign

This should come as no surprise, but Alaska Democrats are calling on Ted Stevens to resign his Senate seat.

Even before the Stevens indictment news broke, Democrats were thought to have a great shot at knocking off Stevens, who is the longest serving GOP senator in U.S. history. Now, with seven felony counts laid out in an indictment, Alaska Democrats are piling on.

"It is another sad day for Alaska,” said Patti Higgins, Chair of the Alaska Democratic Party. “Senator Stevens’ indictment shows just how much Alaska has been hurt by corruption. Senator Stevens violated the public’s trust. Senator Stevens should step down from his post in Washington. It’s time for him to retire. Alaskans need representation in the Senate that they can trust.” 

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich has already run an aggresive campaign to unseat Stevens, but his outlook got a lot better with the legal cloud over Stevens' head. Begich himself has not called on Stevens to resign.

Stevens campaign, almost simultaneously, has put out a statement saying the race is full steam ahead for the Alaskan legend, who has already proclaimed his innocence.

“Senator Stevens’ campaign for re-election is continuing to move full steam ahead,” said Aaron Saunders, a Stevens campaign spokesman. “Our office has been flooded today with calls and emails from supporters urging the Senator to press on. The message from them is clear: Alaska needs Ted Stevens in the U.S. Senate.”