How did Blag know Obama wasn't going to play the game if there was no contact? There was some kind of contact, if only between staffers, no doubt about that. Axelrod knew there had been contact. Axelrod might become the new Scooter Libby.
They even sanitized the quote, what Obama actually said was...
"I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so we were not -- I was not aware of what was happening. And as I said, it's a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that, I don't think it's appropriate to comment. Okay?"
He intentionally backtracked over the word "we". We all know the need to analyze every word uttered by a Democrat and that reads to me like he knows there was contact and he is trying to insulate himself from his staff.