Blago considered Winfrey for Senate

January 26, 2009 After an interview in the New York City studios of "Good Morning America," Blagojevich told ABC7's political reporter Charles Thomas the problem for him in the Winfrey consideration was "how to approach her without it seeming like a gimmick. And the chance was that she wouldn't accept it anyway."

Governor Blagojevich said he considered any number of people among the "who's who in black Chicago," including ABC7's Cheryl Burton.

Before his Dec. 9 arrest on federal corruption charges, Blagojevich was under pressure to appoint an African-American to replace President Barack Obama, who had been the only black in the U.S. Senate.

Blagojevich told GMA that the idea of nominating Winfrey came as he sorted through potential candidates for the job that prosecutors accuse him of peddling to the highest bidder.

Blagojevich said, "She was obviously someone with a much broader bully pulpit than other senators."