JohnCenaFan28
01-26-2009, 06:02 PM
Scandal-hit US Governor Rod Blagojevich has said he considered offering the Illinois senate seat vacated by Barack Obama to talk show host Oprah Winfrey.
Mr Blagojevich is facing an impeachment trial in the state senate over claims he tried to "sell" the seat.
He told ABC that Ms Winfrey, one of America's wealthiest women, would have been unlikely to accept.
Mr Blagojevich says he is innocent and that the trial, which he is not expected to attend, has been rigged.
He told ABC's Good Morning America that Ms Winfrey "seemed to be someone who would help Barack Obama in a significant way become president".
"She was obviously someone with a much broader bully pulpit than other senators," he said.
But he said Ms Winfrey "probably wouldn't take it" and that it would have been hard to offer the seat to her in a way that "didn't look like it was some gimmick and embarrass her".
Mr Blagojevich's eventual choice for the seat, Illinois attorney general Roland Burris, took office in January after initially being blocked by senators.
Under the 17th amendment of the US constitution, state governors have the power to appoint temporary replacements for senators who resign, die or are expelled, until special elections can be held.
-BBC News
Mr Blagojevich is facing an impeachment trial in the state senate over claims he tried to "sell" the seat.
He told ABC that Ms Winfrey, one of America's wealthiest women, would have been unlikely to accept.
Mr Blagojevich says he is innocent and that the trial, which he is not expected to attend, has been rigged.
He told ABC's Good Morning America that Ms Winfrey "seemed to be someone who would help Barack Obama in a significant way become president".
"She was obviously someone with a much broader bully pulpit than other senators," he said.
But he said Ms Winfrey "probably wouldn't take it" and that it would have been hard to offer the seat to her in a way that "didn't look like it was some gimmick and embarrass her".
Mr Blagojevich's eventual choice for the seat, Illinois attorney general Roland Burris, took office in January after initially being blocked by senators.
Under the 17th amendment of the US constitution, state governors have the power to appoint temporary replacements for senators who resign, die or are expelled, until special elections can be held.
-BBC News