To think that a senator who has been elected President of the United States, having to vacat their senate seat would not have any discussions with the person charged with naming their replacement is beyond failing the smell test.
That's what's so strange.
It would have been easy for Obama to explain why he had spoken to Blagojevich about it. It makes sense, and there is nothing illegal about it. Yet, when first asked, he denied it. As if he knew there was more to the story and he'd better just shut up until he knew what the cover story was going to be.