Stevens, 84, was convicted Monday of lying about hundreds of thousands of dollars in home renovations and gifts he received from a corrupt oil contractor. The verdict came down just a week before Election Day, too late for Republicans to put someone new on the ballot against Democrat Mark Begich.
Nevertheless, Republican presidential nominee John McCain, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, urged their Senate colleague to resign.
"It is clear that Sen. Stevens has broken his trust with the people and that he should now step down," McCain said.
That comment beat Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's call for Stevens' resignation. And for a while it put McCain at odds with his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Palin, who has campaigned on a record of standing up to corruption, stopped short of issuing such a call on Monday. After McCain's comments, Palin issued a new statement saying there was a cloud over Stevens' seat.
"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," Palin said.
That Stevens has a chance of winning Tuesday is a testament to his storied political career, which dates back to before Alaska's statehood. If he wins, then steps down, a special election would be held to replace him.
"If a resignation is going to happen, the nation gains nothing by having it happen before the election," said Mead Treadwell, an Alaska Republican and longtime Stevens supporter who is among the state's largest McCain donors.
Stevens has given no indication that he's even considering resignation. His spokesman did not return messages seeking comment Tuesday. But following his conviction, Stevens forcefully declared that he remained a candidate. He asked for patience from his colleagues while his appeals play out and announced that he was heading back to Alaska to campaign.
Some Republicans were not so patient.
"Service in the Senate demands the highest ethical standards," Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said Tuesday. "Unfortunately, his conviction proved that he has failed to meet those standards and he should resign immediately."
Oregon Republican Sen. Gordon Smith, who like Stevens is in a tight race for re-election, echoed that call.
Democrats, who now hold a razor-thin 51-49 majority in the Senate, have targeted Stevens' seat as part of their bid to build a filibuster-proof, 60-vote majority. At a minimum, they are expected to get a lot closer to it on Tuesday. That makes it harder for Republicans to swallow the idea of Stevens resigning now.
"We're frustrated because of the time frame. We're disappointed he didn't step down before this," said Alaska state Rep. Wes Keller, a Republican who plans to vote for Stevens in hopes that he'll win, then resign.
"Had this trial taken place significantly before the election, I'd say he ought to step down. Now, there isn't enough time." said Alaska House Speaker John Harris, also a Republican. "I hope he wins, and we'll see what happens after that."
If Stevens wins and returns to Washington, how long he stays may be up to Senate colleagues. A Senate ethics investigation would begin and Stevens could be expelled from the Senate on a two-thirds vote. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell predicted Stevens would be expelled, but he left open a large caveat: that the conviction survives an appeal, which could take a year or more.
"If he is re-elected and the felony charge stands through the appeals process, there is zero chance that a senator with a felony conviction would not be expelled from the Senate," said Don Stewart, a spokesman for McConnell.
That's the kind of patience Stevens is hoping for. He's getting it from some corners in his party. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, said it's up to Alaskans to decide Stevens' fate. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, agreed.
"Since this case has been tried so close to Election Day, the people in Alaska should have a voice in this matter," Hutchison said. "I am thankful for Ted Stevens' service to our country as a highly decorated veteran and as an elected Senator for over 40 years."
The White House declined to comment on Stevens' case, saying it is still open.
One person who has surprisingly been quiet on the issue was Begich, the popular Anchorage mayor trying to unseat Stevens. Begich has avoided talking about Stevens' legal case, leaving it to Washington Democrats to pepper the Alaska airwaves with advertisements blasting Stevens as corrupt.
Begich released only a brief statement Tuesday: "This past year has been a difficult time for Alaskans," he said, "but our people are strong and resilient and I believe that we will be able to move forward together to address the critical challenges that face Alaska."
