Obama's Halo Undimmed by Blago: Poll

(NEWSER) - Harry Reid called Rod Blagojevich after the election, but before the governor’s arrest, to discourage him from appointing unelectable candidates to Barack Obama’s Senate seat, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The Senate majority leader sought to put the kibosh on Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Danny Davis, along with State Senate President Emil Jones. Reid suggested state AG Lisa Madigan or Illinois' veterans affairs chief Tammy Duckworth. More»

No end to antics for Governor Dead Meat

(NEWSER) - Covering Rod Blagojevich—aka “Gov. Dead Meat”—has been so much fun for Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass that in today’s mailbag column, a reader asks how much he’s paying Blago for the “gift that keeps on giving.” Kass’ reply: “As our esteemed governor famously said, this thing is ‘bleeping golden.’” But Blago isn’t just a gift for Kass, he’s a gift for America, which finally gets a look at the Illinois political machine. More»

Guv unlikely to quit, but would give up naming Obama successor

(NEWSER) - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, under indictment for trying to sell Barack Obama’s Senate seat, would likely now approve a bill authorizing a special election to fill the post, sources tell the Chicago Sun-Times. Blagojevich—who insiders now say has decided not to resign—wants the measure to apply to future such vacancies, taking the power out of the governor’s hands. More»

(NEWSER) - Republicans posted a video today that questions Barack Obama’s old links to Rod Blagojevich, Politico reports. Titled "Questions Remain," it urges Obama to reveal contacts between his team and the scandal-plagued governor. The video shows that Obama advised Blago in his 2002 campaign, and endorsed Blago's re-election bid 2 years ago—when the governor was already under investigation. More»

No sign Chief of Staff pick tried to wheel and/or deal

(NEWSER) - Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama’s pick for White House chief of staff, had multiple conversations with Rod Blagojevich's chief of staff about Obama’s Senate seat, the Chicago Tribune is reporting. There’s no evidence that Emanuel engaged in any dealmaking for the seat, or that he knew of Blagojevich’s pay-to-play scheme. But before the election, Emanuel made a call to Blagojevich’s chief of staff to deliver a list of successors Obama would smile on. More»