Illinois governor undertakes surreal media tour

[January 27, 2009]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The women of "The View" yukked it up with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, mussed his often-mocked helmet of hair and asked him to do his impersonation of President Richard Nixon.

"Come on just say, 'I am not a crook.' Do it," co-host Joy Behar said, egging him on to a clapping audience.

"I'm not going to do that," Blagojevich said. "But let me make this perfectly clear, let me make this perfectly clear: I didn't do anything wrong."

The exchange unfolded as the impeached Democrat took an often-surreal tour of the television talk-show circuit Monday, just days before senators in his home state could oust him.

In one of the most surprising interviews of the day, Blagojevich said he briefly considered naming Oprah Winfrey to the Senate.

Winfrey said she would have turned him down.

"I'm pretty amused by the whole thing," Winfrey told "The Gayle King Show" on Sirius XM Radio. "I think I could be senator, too. I'm just not interested."

Back home, the Illinois Senate convened an impeachment trial that will decide whether to remove the two-term governor, who opted not to defend himself and instead to make his case on TV.

He had a taped appearance on NBC's "Today Show," did a live interview on ABC's "Good Morning America" and then stopped by for a chat at "The View," where Behar tousled his hair and he got grilled by Barbara Walters.

Blagojevich also talked to Fox News Channel, taped an appearance on ABC's "Nightline" and appeared in person Monday night on "Larry King Live." To get his interview, Fox's Geraldo Rivera tracked down Blagojevich in the parking lot of "The View" because Rivera said his previously arranged interview was canceled.

The 52-year-old governor was scheduled to appear Tuesday on CBS' "The Early Show."

The media blitz added to the circus-like atmosphere that has surrounded Blagojevich since his arrest last month on federal corruption charges alleging that he tried to sell President Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder.

In New York, Blagojevich basked in the adulation he craves, signing autographs and posing with onlookers as he left a TV studio near Times Square.

During interviews, Blagojevich largely stuck to his script, repeatedly saying he had done nothing wrong and blasting the impeachment trial as unfair.

On "Nightline," though, Blagojevich acknowledged the demise of his political career.

"Well, I think it's not very promising right now," he responded when Cynthia McFadden asked if he agreed his career is over, according to a transcript of the interview.

He contends Senate rules do not let him defend himself or call the witnesses he wants because of restrictions requested by federal prosecutors. But lawmakers say he can introduce public statements from those restricted witnesses, and they blame the governor for ignoring all deadlines to propose defense witnesses and evidence.

"I think the American people need to know the things that are happening in the land of Lincoln," Blagojevich said between TV appearances.

On "The View," Blagojevich ducked questions from Walters, who asked him to explain prosecutors' allegations about wiretapped conversations.

But the interview with the grande dame of "The View" was awkward because Walters was in Los Angeles and Blagojevich had to sit in front of a video screen to talk to her.

"Here's your chance. No lawyers. You're talking to the public. Please answer that part of it, otherwise, you know, why are you wasting time on these programs? Did you say those things?" Walters pressed.

Blagojevich wouldn't take the bait.

"Whatever the tapes are, they're going to come out, and they'll speak for themselves. The tapes will show the whole story," Blagojevich said.

After more than 11 minutes with Walters, Blagojevich found the sympathetic ear he was looking for from "View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg.

Goldberg seemed incredulous at his insistence that the Illinois Senate could present evidence at the impeachment trial that the governor could not refute. Blagojevich even put his arm around Goldberg and tapped her knee at one point as he explained his position.

"Where the hell's the Supreme Court? That's what I want to know about," Goldberg said.

DePaul University marketing professor Bruce Newman said Blagojevich is taking his last, best shot at getting some attention before he is thrown out of office.

"I think he has to define himself, and he knows the only time he can do that is now when the topic is hot. For him, now is the time to set the tone for the public opinion," Newman said.

[Associated Press; By DEANNA BELLANDI and SARA KUGLER]

Bellandi reported from Chicago. Associated Press video journalist Ted Shaffrey in New York contributed to this report.

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