The Maine Democratic Party blasted a statement by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Bangor) that she would not call on Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) to step down. Stevens was convicted this week on seven counts of violating federal ethics laws.

Many of her Republican colleagues, including Presidential candidate John McCain, have called on Stevens to step down as senator and abandon his reelection bid.

Rebecca Pollard, communications director for the Maine Democratic Party, demanded today that Collins take a stand.

"If Susan Collins really believes that convicted felons have a place in the Senate, she clearly does not represent the kind of change that people in Maine are hungry for in Washington," said Rebecca Pollard, communications director for the Maine Democratic Party. "Whether or not Alaska voters re-elect him a week after a jury of his peers found him guilty should not determine whether Susan Collins thinks he should remain in the Senate."

Kevin Kelley, spokesman for Collins, said the senator stood by the statement she gave the Portland Press Herald Tuesday.

“Senator Collins believes that Senator Stevens should have a few days to consider the right course of action and the people of Alaska will express their view on Tuesday,” the statement read.

U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe has called on Stevens to step down.