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I'm now pretty convinced that David Axelrod will need to be kept in some dark office in the White House, well out of range of any reporters or cameras. Yesterday, I noted that Barack Obama denied having spoken to Blagojevich about his vacant Senate seat, even though Axelrod told a television interviewer a few weeks ago that, "I know he's talked to the governor." Later yesterday, Axelrod came out with a statement explaining, "I was mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the President-elect has spoken directly to Governor Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy. They did not then or at any time discuss the subject."

So, two possibilities: Axelrod was lying yesterday to cover for Obama, or, a few weeks ago, when he said "I know he's talked to the governor," he actually had no clue what he was he was saying. Ever since I asked Axelrod what he thought about Hamas's endorsement of Obama, and he responded, in part, by telling me that it was "flattering" that the Hamas spokesman compared Obama to JFK, I had my questions about his ability to deal with the press. But this seals it. Obama should let this Chicago political operator advise him behind the scenes, but if Axelrod continues to double as a flak, I predict trouble, or at least hilarity.