WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday joined others calling for the governor of Illinois to resign, distancing himself further from the scandal over allegations that the governor schemed to barter away Obama’s vacant Senate seat.”The president-elect agrees … 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.Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday, accused of seeking money or other favors to influence his choice in picking Obama’s replacement.Blagojevich, who is out on bond and has denied wrongdoing, returned to work Wednesday.The governor has authority to appoint the replacement, but 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.Asked whether Obama supports a special election, Gibbs said Obama believes the General Assembly should consider how to fill the Senate seat and “put in place a process to select a new senator that will have the trust and confidence of the people of Illinois.”Aides say Obama is refraining from stating what that solution should be.If Blagojevich resigns, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn would become governor and have the right to appoint Obama’s successor. That would avoid a special election, which can be costly, and speed up the appointment of Obama’s replacement.According to court papers, the governor tried to make it known through emissaries, including union officials and fundraisers, that the seat could be had for the right price. Blagojevich allegedly had a salary in mind – $250,000 to $300,000 a year – and spoke of collecting half-million and million-dollar political contributions.”I’ve got this thing and it’s (expletive) golden,” prosecutors quoted Blagojevich as saying about the Senate appointment on federal bugs in his campaign office and wiretaps on his home telephone, “and I’m just not giving it up for (expletive) nothing. I’m not gonna do it.”Chicago FBI chief Robert Grant said even seasoned investigators were stunned by what they heard, particularly since the governor had known for at least three years that he was under investigation for alleged hiring fraud and clearly realized agents might be listening in.Nothing in the court papers suggested Obama had any part in the discussions about selling the Senate seat or even knew of them. In fact, Blagojevich was overheard complaining at one point that Obama’s people are “not going to give me anything except appreciation.” He added: “(Expletive) them.”Blagojevich was charged with two counts: conspiracy to commit fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and solicitation to commit bribery, which is punishable by up 10 years.Charged along with Blagojevich was his 46-year-old chief of staff, John Harris, who was accused of taking part in the schemes to enrich the governor.Obama has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the case.After Blagojevich’s arrest, Obama and his aides largely refrained from commenting on the scandal. When Obama did speak, he was cautious.In brief comments to reporters Tuesday, Obama said “like the rest of the people of Illinois I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the U.S. attorney’s office today,” but he didn’t go so far to condemn Blagojevich’s alleged actions.He did add about Blagojevich’s process of considering a successor: “I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening.”Obama reiterated that point in an interview published in the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday. “I have not discussed the Senate seat with the governor at any time,” he said.But Obama wouldn’t answer a question on whether he was aware of any conversations between the governor and his top aides, including incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel. “It’s an ongoing investigation,” Obama said. “I think it would be inappropriate for me to … remark on the situation beyond the facts that I know.”And, aides didn’t say whether Emanuel, a Democratic Illinois congressman, was ever approached by the governor’s emissaries involved in allegedly corrupt schemes.State legislative Speaker Michael Madigan, a Democrat, said he is prepared to call the Illinois House into session as early as Monday to set a special election to fill the seat. Illinois Senate President Emil Jones said he had something similar in mind.

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