The full text of state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson’s statement on her re-election bid and the charges against her:

By Herald staff
Thursday, October 30, 2008

“I would like voters of the 2nd Suffolk Senate District to know that I am staying the course of my campaign for re-election on November 4. Not only does this represent the biggest challenge in my personal and political life, but it will test to the limit the notion of innocent until proven guilty.

“While there is great curiosity about the particulars of my case, I am not at liberty to discuss them for obvious reasons. For those of you who must be thinking ‘There has to be more to this story,’ of course there is. But it is not a story that I am able or willing to lay out in the press.

“From the purely political perspective, it seems a lot of people - including myself - have seriously underestimated U.S. Attorney Sullivan’s political calculus. In one fell swoop, and even before an indictment has been returned, he sought to imperil my re-election campaign, and has set much of the state’s Democratic leadership back on its heels. He brought this issue forward at this time knowing full well I would never have an opportunity to have my day in court prior to November 4.

“I am grateful for and humbled by the support I continue to receive, and ask that voters continue to stick by me on November 4.”