One ‘Hot Rod’ that Won’t Rev

President-elect Obama has taken to the podium now a couple of times to answer questions about his personal and his campaign’s involvement in the Illinois governor controversy.

My scorecard so far of Mr. Obama has him at some pretty high marks. While I thought he misstepped at first in not calling immediately for Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s (D) resignation, he adeptly put that issue to rest and followed up with a series of strong statements regarding the governor’s pathetic behavior as well as Obama’s involvement in the whole affair.

I hope for his sake that former Rep. Rahm Emmanuel (D-Ill.) kept his nose clean throughout the governor’s vetting process. I would be surprised if Mr. Emmanuel didn’t have some form of communication with the governor’s office over a U.S. Senate seat. After all, it’s a pretty important thing when you’re trying to get to the magic number of 60 votes in the world’s most exclusive club. I’ve quietly thought that Mr. Obama’s incoming chief of staff could be a lightning rod, highly susceptible to criticism from Washington’s vulture-like denizens. Time will tell, but I don’t feel such is the case in this instance.

Look, this isn’t pretty. No scandal ever is. And certainly not one that involves a state’s highest elected official along with a cameo appearance by the next president who happens to hail from the neighborhood. But that’s where this story ends as far as I’m concerned with the president-elect.

Mr. Obama has handled himself admirably in this instance. And unless there’s something more to his involvement that’s looming around in the trunk, “Hot Rod” Blagojevich won’t be able to bring his in-state rival down with him.

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