Is it possible that Obama had no idea about the selection process for his vacant senate seat?

I find it absolutely incredulous that Obama could have had no knowledge of the selection process. Perhaps he wasn't in on the "Senate Seat Fire Sale" business or maybe he was...there are conflicting reports from the Obama camp on communication and contact with Blagojevich. If he didn't know, should he have known? He comes from the Chicago Political world and would have intimate knowledge of the internal workings. This whole thing stinks.