Sen. Stevens advertises to save seat

Convicted Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens will air a two-minute advertisement Monday on seven television stations across his home state in an effort to salvage his political career and win reelection Tuesday, his campaign has announced.

The Republican was found guilty last week of seven counts of making false statements relating to gifts. He was already facing the most difficult reelection campaign of his four-decade Senate career.

{mosads}Without the filter of the media, Alaskans will be able to hear from Sen. Stevens in his own words during this spot, which is four times longer than standard television ads,” his campaign said. “This unique format will allow Sen. Stevens to speak in greater detail about issues that concern Alaska voters and not just in the sound bites that 30-second advertisements require.”

Stevens faces Democratic Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich in a race that was a virtual tie before the verdict was handed down Monday.

A Rasmussen poll conducted the day after Stevens’s conviction showed Begich leading by eight points, 52-44. A Research 2000 poll for the liberal website Daily Kos had the mayor of Alaska’s largest city up 58-36.

Stevens is appealing the conviction and resisting calls from GOP colleagues to step aside.

The ad will air on seven stations, including two each in Anchorage and Fairbanks, between 6 and 6:30 p.m.