Axelrod: Obama camp ‘eager’ to release Blago contacts

David Axelrod said Wednesday that “nobody is more eager
than we are” to release a list of contacts between President-elect Obama’s
transition team and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) and his staff.

The incoming senior White House adviser said the U.S.
attorney’s office asked the transition team to delay the release of the list by
one week.

{mosads}Axelrod emphasized that he stands by Rep. Rahm Emanuel
(D-Ill.), Obama’s incoming White House chief of staff, who has come under fire
because of his alleged contacts with Blagojevich.

“He is someone who I think has enormous integrity and
unparalleled skill. And I think we’re lucky to have him,” Axelrod said on
MSNBC. “I have no concerns about Rahm. He is an enormous asset to us and will
be an enormous asset to the country, as he has been in the Congress.”

The Obama adviser also said that the internal review of
contacts will reveal that the president-elect was not involved in any
discussions about his Senate seat and that his aides had “no inappropriate”
talks with Blagojevich or his staff on the subject.

Blagojevich was arrested last week on corruption charges,
including allegations he tried to sell Obama’s Senate seat to the
highest bidder.