There's an article in today's Wasington Post, "Obama Worked to Distance Self From Blagojevich Early On." I don't doubt that's likely true as Blagojevich has long had a reputation for corruption even by Chicago standards. However, I somehow doubt the Post would go out of its way to write an article that so favorably covers for a Republican. Exhibit A:
"Few people I've ever known have as good a sense about who might end up getting you in trouble," said Denny Jacobs, a retired Illinois politician from East Moline who befriended Obama when they both served in the state Senate. "It's like a sixth sense. Chicago's a mess, and he was surrounded by it. But he knew the people that could drag you down and tarnish your image."
Which explains why he he so studiously avoided Tony Rezko, Jeremiah Wright, Rashid Khalidi, William Ayers, Richard M. Daley...