Obama distances himself from Blagojevich scandal

Barack Obama tried to distance himself from the fiasco in his home state were the governor was arrested today for attempting to "sell" Obama's open senate seat.

"I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening," Obama told reporters as he emerged from a meeting with former vice president Al Gore yesterday. "It is a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that, I don't think it's appropriate to comment."

Nothing in the indictment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich implicates Obama in the alleged activity.

Indeed some of Obama's efforts to push ethics reforms indirectly led to the wire-tapping of Blagojevich's phones.

Illinois state lawmakers have called an emergency session to select a successor for Obama's senate seat.

Obama Tries to Stay Above the Hometown Fray Washington Post, United States - 29 minutes ago John McCain and the GOP this year -- sought to tie him to Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a onetime friend and fundraiser who was convicted last year of fraud and ...

State lawmakers prepare to decide Obama replacement Rockford Register Star, IL - 38 minutes ago Political fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko, who raised money for the campaigns of both Blagojevich and Obama, is awaiting sentencing after being convicted of ...

Obama’s Intervention Indirectly Led to Case New York Times, United States - 49 minutes ago Mr. Rezko was among the first to contribute to Mr. Obama’s earliest State Senate race, in 1995, and later became a major fund-raiser for his campaign for ...