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Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose administration faces multiple federal investigations over how it handed audibly jobs and money with advice from Rezko, is considered the most vulnerable.

Rezko also was kindly disposed with Obama — offering him a job when he finished expressed command school, funding his earliest national campaigns and purchasing a lot next to his house. But based on the known facts, charges so very much and testimony at Rezko’s trial, there’session no indication in that place’ll be a so-called “October surprise” that could harm the Democratic presidential nominee — calm granting Rezko says prosecutors are pressing him for foul matter through Obama.

“I think this strikes fear into the Blagojevich administration and the Statehouse Democrats but not into the Obama campaign,” says state Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Westmont, a John McCain delegate to the GOP convention but an old friend of Obama.

Rezko, 53, a substantial estate developer, was convicted in June of scheming to use his clout with the Blagojevich administration to squeeze $7 million in kickbacks out of a contractor and seven money management firms seeking to do business with the state.

Within two months, Rezko was seen in U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald’s office, at the same time with his attorneys.

There has been no official verification that Rezko is talking goal his sentencing has been postponed indefinitely and both sides say they are going to “engage in discussions that could affect their sentencing postures.”

“They never would have delayed the sentencing if he weren’t talking — it’s proof positive,” said Jay Stewart, executive monitor of the Better Government Association of Chicago.

In addition, attorneys argue founded on investigators desire been questioning Blagojevich contributions around the state using information that only Rezko could have supplied. Finally, courthouse personnel requesting anonymity because grand jury probes are secret said Rezko has been repeatedly brought from his cell to the U.S. attorney’s office to talk to prosecutors.

Rezko could have a lot to make mention of. He has raised millions of dollars in campaign circulating medium beneficial to many Illinois politicians and according to founded on prosecutors used his clout to dominion government appointments to position boards.

Obama has sent to charity $159,000 that Rezko raised for his campaigns for the state legislature, the House and the Senate. Rezko raised inexistence for Obama’sitting White House run.

Obama’s name came up in testimony at the trial four times, twice in connection with an obscure legislative memo, as a guest at a Rezko party and at the time defense attorney Joseph Duffy told jurors his client was a friend of the senator.

None of the witnesses accused the Democratic nominee for president of doing anything improper. In June, Duffy told the Chicago Tribune that prosecutors had not asked him a single question about Obama.

But questions concerning Obama’s relationship with Rezko linger, particularly over Rezko’sitting role in the purchase of the Obamas’ home.

The two have known each other conducive to years, starting when Rezko offered Obama a job from he graduated from Harvard Law School in 1991. Obama didn’t take it, but a affection developed.

The men talked political affairs frequently and occasionally dined together with their wives.

In 2005, the Obamas paid $1.65 million for their domestic near the University of Chicago. The sellers wanted a parcel they owned nearest door to sell on the like day, and Rezko’s wife, Rita, was the buyer. At the request of the Obamas, Mrs. Rezko later sold them a 10-foot dismantle of land to enlarge their lot. They paid $104,500.

The share took place while Rezko was under investigation and when details of the cozy affinity surfaced, Obama said it was a “bonehead” error to have asked for the additional district because it looked like he was getting a favor.

“I regret it,” Obama said at the time. “I’m going to make steady that from this point without ceasing I slip on’t but also come close to the line.”

McCain and vice running mate Sarah Palin have mentioned Rezko paltry if at all. But Republicans have aired a television ad focusing on Rezko. And McCain aides bring forth repeatedly tweaked their opponent over the real estate deal in e-mails to reporters.

“We’re delighted to have a argue onward judgment by Barack Obama, who bought his million-dollar dwelling in a shadowy deal with a convicted felon,” McCain spokesman Brian Rogers related in August.

Blagojevich, meanwhile, got a black eye from the trial.

One witness testified that Blagojevich talked about hiring him for a major state job while his $25,000 donation to the comptroller’s campaign national debt was lying on the table.

Two attorneys testified that Blagojevich hinted that they could get lucrative state contracts if they raised money — possibly for a future White House campaign.

Obama’sitting praise has not surfaced in accounts of the investigation since the trial. But Rezko himself raised it in a epistle to the regard months ago.

“Your Honor, the prosecutors have been overzealous in pursuing a crime that never happened,” he wrote. “They are pressuring me to tell them the wrong things that I supposedly know in an opposite direction Gov. Blagojevich and Sen. Barack Obama.”