The embattled governor of Illinois ignored President-elect Barack Obama's call for him to resign, clinging defiantly to power a day after he was arrested and accused of trying to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich was released on bond and reported to work Wednesday after his Tuesday arrest by the FBI. His spokeswoman called the work day "business as usual," but there was mounting pressure on the unpopular governor.

Along with Obama, top Democrats in the Senate called for Blagojevich to step down. They warned they could refuse to seat a replacement chosen by the governor for Obama's old seat.

"Everyone is calling for his head," said Barbara Flynn Currie, a leader in the Illinois state House of Representatives and, like the governor, a Democrat.

Obama, who came up in the rough world of Chicago politics, has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the scandal, but it could prove to be a headache for him as he begins his presidency on Jan. 20.

"The president-elect agrees with (Illinois) Lt. Gov. (Pat) Quinn and many others that under the current circumstances it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois," Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said in response to questions from The Associated Press.

Obama resigned from the U.S. Senate after his election Nov. 4. In excerpts of wiretapped conversations released by prosecutors, Blagojevich appears to be scheming to enrich himself by offering to sell the seat for campaign cash or a lucrative job inside or outside government.

The governor is traditionally tasked with filling a vacant Senate seat.

In Illinois, politicians sought to avoid the taint of scandal-by-association.

U.S. congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., the son of civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson, said at a news conference in Washington that he was "Senate Candidate 5" in the government's criminal complaint _ a man Blagojevich was secretly recorded as saying might be willing to pay cash for appointment to Obama's vacant Senate seat.

Jackson said he had been assured by prosecutors he was not a target of the investigation, and he emphatically said he had not engaged "whatsoever in any wrongdoing."

Other Democrats in Washington edged away from calls for a special election to fill Obama's place in the Senate, hoping that the lieutenant governor would soon become governor and fill the vacancy on his own. That would assure the party of holding the seat, and would be far faster than a special election.

Quinn does not like Blagojevich, and the feeling is mutual. The two haven't spoken in more than a year. Quinn has called Blagojevich "petty and vindictive" for slashing money to the offices of state officials who have disagreed with him. Blagojevich, ensconced in his downtown office, gave no sign he was contemplating resignation, and dispatched his spokeswoman, Kelley Quinn, to say it was "business as usual" in his 16th-floor suite, situated a few blocks from Obama's transition headquarters.

"At the end of the day, the top priority for our office is to serve the people, and we have not lost sight of that, nor will we lose sight of that," the spokeswoman said.

Blagojevich, whose 52nd birthday was Wednesday, is charged with conspiracy and solicitation to commit bribery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and 10 years, respectively.

Besides scheming to swap or sell the Senate seat, Blagojevich _ a former congressman, state lawmaker and prosecutor _ was accused of trying to strong-arm the Chicago Tribune newspaper into firing editorial writers who had called for his impeachment. He also was accused of using the governor's power over state business to raise campaign funds.

Top Senate Democrats were minced no words in a letter circulated among the rank and file for signatures.

Blagojevich's resignation, followed by an appointment made by a new governor, would "be the most expeditious way for a new senator to be chosen and seated in a manner that would earn the confidence of the people of Illinois and all Americans," wrote Majority Leader Harry Reid and the party's second-ranking leader, Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois.

They added that if Blagojevich chose to "ignore the request of the Senate Democratic Caucus and make an appointment we would be forced to exercise our Constitutional authority ... to determine whether such a person should be seated."

The Constitution gives the U.S. Senate authority to refuse to allow a member to be sworn in.

Top Illinois lawmakers have said they are preparing to call the Legislature into session as early as next week to set a special election to choose Obama's successor. Many officials said Blagojevich should be impeached if he refuses to leave.

Still, it was unclear what incentive the governor had to give up his office.

His attorney said Tuesday that he is innocent, and a resignation might make him appear guilty. The office also gives him a certain amount of clout, which can help him raise money for his defense. And he may need the salary _ federal prosecutors say their wiretaps also caught Blagojevich complaining about his financial problems.

Also Wednesday, one of his top deputies, Bob Greenlee, resigned.

The complaint against Blagojevich identifies a "Deputy Governor A" who is deeply involved in the alleged scheme to strong-arm the Tribune. Greenlee's attorney, David Stetler, did not dispute that his client is "Deputy Governor A."

Stetler told The Associated Press the reason behind Greenlee's resignation "should be obvious."

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Associated Press writer Liz Sidoti contributed to this report.