14 seconds ago 2009-12-11T20:45:01-08:00
Sen. John Ensign, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, urged Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens to “do the right thing” and resign his long-held seat following his conviction earlier this week on seven counts of corruption.
Since his conviction on Monday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has called on Stevens to resign, as have both John McCain and Barack Obama.
Recent polls show Stevens running even with Democratic rival Mark Begich, the mayor of Anchorage. If Stevens were to bow out, the GOP could run a candidate in an special election.
Even a Stevens win would not be great news for Republicans, as the senator may face an expulsion vote from his colleagues.
“The statesman-like thing for Sen. Stevens would be to resign,” Ensign said in an interview on MSNBC. “I would like to see a special election in the state of Alaska so they can actually choose between a Republican and a Democrat running to see who they want to represent them in the United States Senate.”
“Sen. Stevens should do the right thing and resign so that we can have a special election to determine the best way to represent the people of the state of Alaska,” he added.
Ensign called the timing of the conviction “unfortunate” for Republicans facing tough reelection prospects.
In a statement following the verdict, Stevens said that he is “obviously disappointed” by the verdict but insisted that he is innocent of the charges.
“I ask that Alaskans and my Senate colleagues stand with me as I pursue my rights. I remain a candidate for the United States Senate.”
