Attacking Ted Stevens -- Minus The Indictment

Is Ted Stevens still under federal indictment in a corruption investigation? He is, but you wouldn't know it from the TV ads by groups trying to defeat him this election.

First there was Campaign Money Watch's ad, which accused Stevens of "pay-to-play politics," but sidestepped the indictment. Now, a new ad by Alaska Conservation Voters for Clean Government tells us, "It's time for a new Alaska senator," without mentioning the $250,000 worth of gifts and favors that Stevens allegedly failed to disclose from an oil services company.

In the ad, done in "man-on-the-street" style, a guy with a microphone asks Alaskans, "So what do you think about Ted Stevens?" Mic guy tells them Stevens voted to give tax breaks to oil companies. Again, no mention of the seven felony counts.

The group is a federal PAC connected to Alaska's chapter of the League of Conservation Voters.

Here's what Alaska Conservation Voters political director Caitlin Higgins says about the indictment: "It's certainly an important issue. But the issue that's most important to us is making sure that we have a secure energy future."

Stevens' trial is due to start next Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.

-- Will Evans

2:26 PM ET | 09-16-2008 | permalink

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