Siegelman Has Long Odds On Obama Commutation

Several thousand people have signed a petition asking President Barack Obama to keep former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman from spending the next few years in prison. But Siegelman realizes the odds of getting a presidential commutation are about the same as winning a state lottery. More than 5,700 people convicted of federal crimes have asked Obama for a commutation of their sentences. Siegelman says only one has been approved. Despite the long odds, Siegelman says he's proud of his daughter for starting an online petition to ask the president to commute his sentence. He says it's his only hope. With credit for nine months already served and good behavior, attorneys say the 66-year-old could be out in about five years. A commutation could shorten that sentence or erase it entirely. Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.