Reid: Stevens faces Senate expulsion

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., says Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, faces expulsion from the Senate if he wins re-election this week.

Stevens, 84, the longest-serving Senate Republican in history, was convicted in Washington last Monday of failing to report more than $250,000 in renovations and gifts from friends. He returned to Alaska after his trial to resume his re-election campaign and said during a debate Thursday with his Democratic challenger, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, that he would win an appeal of his case.

"I have not been convicted of anything yet," Stevens said, calling Monday's guilty verdicts "a temporary situation."

After Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, said he believes Stevens' federal felony convictions will be overturned and Stevens will be seated in the Senate if he wins re-election, Reid issued a statement Saturday saying Stevens faces expulsion and an ethics investigation, Roll Call reported Sunday.

Top Republicans, including presidential nominee John McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, have called on Stevens to resign.

Stevens plans to air a two-minute ad on Alaska TV stations Monday evening, his campaign said.

A Rasmussen poll conducted Tuesday indicated Begich led Stevens 52-44, and a Research 2000 poll showed Begich up 58-36, The Hill said.