The political and legal fallout from Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens ’ conviction earlier this week of seven corruption-related felonies is continuing to build as the Senate’s longest-serving Republican presses ahead with his bid for a seventh full term.

In a debate against Democratic challenger Mark Begich, Stevens once again struck a defiant pose, proclaiming he had “not been convicted of anything” because he was appealing the guilty verdict a Washington jury returned Oct. 27.

Stevens again labeled himself as the victim of “the worst case of misconduct by the prosecutors that is known.”

When asked what he would say to Republicans who have called for his resignation — including GOP presidential candidate John McCain , a fellow senator, and running mate Sarah Palin , Alaska’s governor — Stevens suggested that their comments were politically motivated.

“I would tell them that I understand that they make statements during the heat of a campaign and probably they’ve been a little bit misinformed by their staff. But I wouldn’t hold it against them,” Stevens said during the Thursday night debate. “I understand what they’re doing; they’re trying to get elected.”

A Washington jury convicted Stevens of seven counts of making false statements on his Senate financial disclosure forms. CQ Politics rates the race as “Leans Democrat.”

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