* The AP reports that the cruise ship the governor’s been riding down the River Nile has apparently sprung a leak…
Gov. Rod Blagojevich is blaming his low approval rating on the nation’s slumping economy.
The governor says his 13 percent job approval rating is unrelated to the federal corruption investigation that’s been swirling around his administration.
Blagojevich contends that he’d easily win if he were running for governor in the upcoming election
* Blagojevich did make a self-effacing and quite funny quip about the Trib’s poll which showed him at 13 percent approval, however…
“That’s a baker’s dozen, right?” Blagojevich jokingly asked reporters after an unrelated news conference in Blue Island. “I consider that a lucky number.”
Blagojevich said he doesn’t think he’s done anything to garner such a low rating and said politicians across the state and country are being targeted by voters unhappy about higher gas, food and housing prices. But he dodged questions about the growing federal investigation of his administration.
* But this is our quote of the week..
“I love the people of Illinois more today than I did before,” Blagojevich said. “And if it’s a case of unrequited love at this point, I’ll just have to work extra hard to get them to love me again.”
He might start by doing what they want.
*** UPDATE *** Chicago Public Radio has posted audio clips.