Breaking: Obama Calls on Stevens to Step Down

Sen. Barack Obama is calling on Ted Stevens, his convicted Senate colleague, to step down.  The Obama campaign just released this statement from the Democratic presidential nominee:

Yesterday’s ruling wasn’t just a verdict on Sen. Stevens — but on the broken politics that has infected Washington for decades. It’s time to put an end to the corruption and influence-peddling, restore openness and accountability, and finally put government back in the hands of the people it serves. Sen. Stevens should step down.

Obama also stressed that Washington faces problems that are bigger than any single resignation:

But Stevens’ resignation won’t solve anything on its own. It’s clear that if we’re going to put the economy back on track and provide relief to working Americans, we’re going to have to change the way that Washington works. That’s why I’m running for president.

Some Democrats have also been pressing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for her past associations with Stevens, an angle that Obama completely avoided.

Finally, it is striking that Obama’s rival, Sen. John McCain, rushed to call for Stevens’ resignation before Obama did, as TWI’s Mike Lillis reported earlier today.