Ted Stevens

Getty Images Photo

Mitch McConnell

At a campaign stop this evening, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) said his Senate colleague Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) should resign, following Stevens' conviction yesterday on seven counts related to the concealment of gifts his received from an oil contractor.

"He should resign," McConnell said this evening, according to The Hill.

The campaign of McConnell's opponent, businessman Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville), pressed the issue since the conviction, firing off several releases questioning if McConnell would call on Stevens to resign.

Several other Republican Senators in tight races added to the call for Stevens to resign in addition to the Republican nominees for President and Vice President.

Earlier in the day, McConnell released a statement saying Stevens should be "held accountable," though tonight's comments are the first directly indicating the Senate Minority Leader thought the Senator from Alaska should go.

Lunsford's campaign, however, criticized the delay and took credit for the newly reported position of McConnell's.

"Most people would realize right away that when a man is convicted on seven felony counts, he no longer belongs in the U.S. Senate and should resign immediately,"said Cary Stemle, Lunsford's spokesperson, in a statement.

"Finally, after a day and a half of avoiding the issue, McConnell is now calling for Stevens to resign. Instead of showing leadership and immediately calling for Stevens' resignation, McConnell was more interested in protecting Washington's culture of corruption.  It took Bruce Lunsford putting pressure on McConnell for him to make the right decision," Stemle added.

Businessman Bruce Lunsford's (D-Louisville) campaign is again trying to pressure U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) with regard to his fellow Republican Senator, Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). Yesterday, Stevens was convicted on seven counts related to concealing gifts he received from an oil contracter.

In a statement, Lunsford called on McConnell - the Senate Republican Leader - to push for Stevens to be removed from the upper chamber.

"Ted Stevens has been convicted of a felony and could be serving jail time by next year. He should be expelled from the Senate," said Lunsford. "Mitch McConnell is the leader of his party and should take the lead on demanding his expulsion."

In the wake of the conviction, both U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin have called on Stevens to resign from the Senate.

With 47 days remaining until the general election, the race between incumbent Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) and businessman Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) for the U.S. Senate remains one of the most watched contests in the state.

Saturday marks a landmark day for Lunsford, when the woman his campaign terms "the adopted daughter" of Kentucky will be stumping for his bid. U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) will be making two stops for him, in Pikeville and Lexington.

Lunsford's campaign continues to try and rally attendees to the events, dispatching numerous campaign e-mails encouraging supporters to catch Clinton's appearance.

In addition, Ryan Alessi of the Lexington Herald-Leader reports Gov. Steve Beshear (D-Lexington) has recorded a robocall asking central Kentucky Democrats to come out to the event.

Other national interests are continuing their push for Lunsford's efforts, as the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee included McConnell among the GOP Senators targeted in a press release dispatched today.

Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) is making use of the indictment of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) in his campaign’s latest television advertisement. While a good deal of familiar attacks on his opponent, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville), are used in the ad, Lunsford ends the spot by trying to connect McConnell to Stevens – though not mentioning the Alaskan by name.

“Here is how it works in Washington: the politicians get millions in campaign cash, the special interests get what they want, and we get the short end of the stick,” said Lunsford in the ad. “Mitch McConnell is the master of this system.”

“It’s how big oil gets billions in tax breaks, and we get four dollars a gallon gas. It’s how Wall Street gets bailed out and people lose their homes,” Lunsford continues. “It’s how Senators get indicted and Mitch McConnell says nothing.”

The last line is seemingly a reference to Stevens – a charge further clarified by a statement released from the campaign.

MAYFIELD -- During a media availability after this morning's Graves County Republican Breakfast, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) indicated he did not think the indictment of his fellow Republican Senator, Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) would hurt Republicans in the November elections.

"I think it's an issue in Alaska and it's an issue nowhere else," said McConnell.

The campaign of his opponent, businessman Bruce LunsfordSen. McConnell (R-Louisville) during today's availability: Politicker photo (D-Louisville), has publicly speculated as to whether McConnell - as Republican leader in the U.S. Senate - would ask Stevens to step down. When asked if he would do so, McConnell indicated otherwise.

"This is a matter for Alaska and for the legal process and I don’t really have any other comment," said McConnell.

In the wake of the indictment of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), the campaigns of Kentucky's Senate candidates have engaged in a back and forth over the sources of some of their campaign contributions.

Democratic candidate Bruce Lunsford initially called on opponent and U.S. Sen Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) to donate funds he received from Stevens to charity - a tactic tried by other Democratic Senate candidates against incumbent opponents elsewhere across the country.

In Maine, Oregon,and New Hampshire, Republican incumbents who received money from Stevens did announce they would give the funds from Stevens and his Northern Lights PAC to charity.

In response to Lunsford's call, however, McConnell's campaign bucked the trend and  blasted its opponent for the history of some of his own fundraisers, including one under police scrutiny for potential sex crimes.

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville): Getty images PhotoThe campaign of Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford jumped on today's news of the federal indictment against U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). Lunsford's campaign dispatched a release this afternoon calling on their opponent, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville), to rid himself of funds received from Stevens.

"Over the course of his career, Mitch McConnell has accepted $13,500 in campaign contributions from Sen. Stevens," said Lunsford spokesperson Allison Haley in the statement. "Sen. Stevens and his potentially nefarious relationship with an energy company is a textbook example of what is wrong with Washington. Mitch McConnell should do the honorable thing and donate these funds to a charity here in Kentucky immediately."

Stevens is charged with intentionally concealing more than $250,000 worth of gifts he received from Veco, an oil services company, by not disclosing them on the Senate's personal finance disclosure forms.

Earlier today, Stevens said he was "innocent" of the alleged crimes.

Lunsford's release points mostly to funds McConnell has accepted from Stevens' Northern Lights PAC over the course of his career.

The total amount referenced includes $7,500 in total contributions McConnell's campaign received from that PAC this year.