Blagojevich Arrest Puts Jackson in Heat of Spotlight

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Jackson Jr. on Blagojevich Corruption Scandal

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. denies any wrongdoing in connection with the Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich charges in a press conference.

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"I did not initiate or authorize anyone at any time to promise anything to Governor Blagojevich on my behalf," Jackson said. "I never sent a message or an emissary to the governor to make an offer, to plead my case or to propose a deal about a U.S. Senate seat, period."

Jackson, 43, said he expected fair consideration from Blagojevich, based on his hard work and seven terms in Congress, "because I had earned it."

For Jackson, the week's events have been a setback. Casting himself as a reformer, he touted himself early and often for a seat that one colleague said he has been eyeing since before Obama won it in 2004. Indeed, Obama approached Jackson to gauge his interest before entering the race.

"We have had conversations about his desire for that seat years ago, going back to when Senator Fitzgerald was there," Chicago Alderman Anthony Beale said, referring to Obama's Republican predecessor, Peter Fitzgerald. "He led a very public campaign for that seat, I don't think there's anything wrong with that."

At his news conference on Wednesday, Jackson sounded a note of defiance, making clear that he does not consider himself sidelined. With the Illinois legislature considering a special election to fill Obama's seat, Jackson remains a potential candidate.

He told reporters that if Obama, a self-described "skinny kid with a funny name," could become president of the United States, then "a short kid with a somewhat controversial but certainly a high-profile name could be a senator from Illinois."

Beale, whose South Side ward lies partly in Jackson's congressional district, said he considers Jackson a straight-shooter: "In the 11 years I've known the congressman, I've never heard any improprieties as far as how he's conducted business."

Jackson, whose political strength is concentrated on the South Side -- his wife, Sandi, is a recently elected Chicago alderman -- was an early Obama supporter. He served as co-chair of Obama's 2004 Senate campaign and a national co-chair of his presidential contest.

John Schmidt, a onetime chief of staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley and former Democratic candidate for governor, said Jackson has gotten results for Chicago and the south suburbs in the 13 years since he was elected to Congress at age 30.

"He clearly set out when he went to Washington to show that he was not just a guy named Jesse Jackson," Schmidt said.

Staff writer Kari Lydersen contributed to this report.