Posted by Monique Garcia and John Chase at 8:40 p.m.

With Antoin “Tony” Rezko’s federal corruption trial looming, Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday tried to deflect the heat he’s been getting over his former adviser and top fundraiser by pointing out he’s not the only politician who has received help from Rezko.

Blagojevich ticked off a list of elected officials who also have ties to the indicted developer. While not naming them, he made reference to everyone from Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to House Speaker Michael Madigan, his political nemesis, and Madigan’s daughter, Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan.

When asked if he regretted his relationship with Rezko, the governor said he was not alone in facing “some of the occupational hazards that go along with being in politics.”

“We presume and hope that people who are helping us are doing things honestly and forthrightly, and then sometimes there are allegations to suggest that maybe not,” he said Tuesday following a news conference in downtown Chicago.

“And then you deal with all the incoming that comes along with it, whether you’re a governor of a state like Illinois, or a presidential candidate, or an attorney general, or a lieutenant governor, or a speaker of the House or even Republicans who’ve also been the beneficiaries of some of Mr. Rezko’s help.”

Rezko has had ties to each of those politicians in some fashion over the years, from a once-close relationship with Obama, a first-term U.S. senator, to co-hosting a $3.8 million Chicago fundraiser in 2003 for President Bush. Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn also received contributions from Rezko’s former development company.

Blagojevich twice made reference to Obama, whose ties to Rezko have become highlighted in the national coverage of his bid for the presidency. On Monday, Blagojevich was the lone statewide elected official left out of a news conference showcasing Obama’s widespread backing among Illinois Democrats.

“This gentleman that you’re talking about is now a national figure,” Blagojevich said of Rezko. “He’s someone who’s been involved with helping people in politics for a long time.”

But the connections between Rezko and the governor have run deep since Blagojevich first ran for the office. Not only did he raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Blagojevich’s first campaign run, he also played an early role in recommending his associates for top administration positions and acting as a political sounding board for the governor.