Both Presidential candidates called on Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) to step down today in the wake of the senator's guilty verdict in federal court yesterday. Here are the statements:

From Obama:

"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. Senator Stevens should step down."

And from McCain:

"It is clear that Senator Stevens has broken his trust with the people and that he should now step down. I hope that my colleagues in the Senate will be spurred by these events to redouble their efforts to end this kind of corruption once and for all."

Also, from Governor Palin:

"After being found guilty on seven felony counts, I had hoped Senator Stevens would take the opportunity to do the statesman-like thing and erase the cloud that is covering his Senate seat. He has not done so," she said in a statement released afterward. "Alaskans are grateful for his decades of public service but the time has come for him to step aside. Even if elected on Tuesday, Senator Stevens should step aside to allow a special election to give Alaskans a real choice of who will serve them in Congress."

Based on Stevens' public comments, it seems like he'll stay in the race. Under current law, if he wins re-election on Tuesday he is not required to step down and instead must be removed by a full Senate vote on recommendation by the ethics committee (currently chaired by Senators Barbara Boxer John Cornyn). Regardless, a jury of his peers decided that he was guilty on all seven counts and its time for him move on. As both presidential candidates pointed out in their statements, the trust has been broken.

It's time for a fresh start. It's time for change.