In this Dec. 9 photo president-elect Barack Obama is seen after speaking about Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich during his meeting with vice-president-elect Joe Biden and former vice-president Al Gore in Chicago. On Wednesday Obama joined others calling for Blagojevich to resign. (Charles Dharapak/Associated Press)

Barack Obama on Wednesday called for the governor of Illinois to resign after he allegedly tried to sell the U.S. president-elect's former Senate seat.

Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested at his home Tuesday morning on accusations he was conspiring to sell the vacant Senate seat, for which he has the power to appoint someone. He was later released from custody and denies any wrongdoing.

"Under the current circumstances, it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois," said Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs, echoing calls by other prominent politicians in Illinois and elsewhere for Blagojevich's resignation.

Gibbs told the Associated Press that Obama believes the Illinois legislature should consider a special election to select his replacement. He said he hopes it's a process that will have the trust and confidence of the people of Illinois.

Earlier Wednesday, Republicans had begun to question why Obama had not commented on his connections to Blagojevich.

Robert Duncan, chairman of the Republican National Committee, had called Obama's comments on the matter "insufficient at best."

"Given the president-elect’s history of supporting and advising Gov. Blagojevich, he has a responsibility to speak out and fully address the issue.”

The RNC also released a quote from Obama in 2006 in which the then Illinois senator said he would be "happy" to work on Blagojevich's re-election campaign if asked.

His comment came at a time that U.S. prosecutors were investigating Blagojevich's hiring practices. Obama said he was concerned about the reports but said he would not speculate to what degree the governor was involved.

"The serious nature of the crimes listed by federal prosecutors raises questions about the interaction with Gov. Blagojevich, president-elect Obama and other high-ranking officials who will be working for the future president," said Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the new GOP House whip.

In the recent case, prosecutors have been quick to point out that Obama is not accused of any wrongdoing.

An FBI affidavit said Blagojevich was intercepted on wiretaps conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife.

Prosecutors allege Blagojevich wanted a cabinet post, placement at a private foundation in a significant position, campaign contributions or an ambassadorship in return for the Senate seat.

The 76-page affidavit alleges the 51-year-old Democratic governor even considered appointing himself if he wasn't offered anything of value.

Quick to distance

Obama's transition team has been quick to put distance between the president-elect and the governor. They have acknowledged that Obama endorsed his fellow Democrat for the governorship in the past, but have stressed the two did not have a close relationship.

Some Obama aides have backtracked on previous comments made about their relationship.

On Nov. 23, Obama's senior adviser David Axelrod told Fox News Chicago that Obama had discussed the issue of the Senate seat with Blagojevich.

He said Obama had not indicated he had a preference for a replacement.

"I know he's talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them," Axelrod said then.

But on Tuesday, Axelrod said he was "mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the president-elect has spoken directly to Gov. Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy. They did not then or at any time discuss the subject."

Earlier this year, Obama's incoming chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, told the New Yorker that Emanuel, Obama and Blagojevich's campaign co-chair, David Wilhelm, were among the top strategists of Blagojevich's 2002 gubernatorial victory.

On Tuesday, Wilhelm told ABCNews.com it was an advisory council that included Rahm and Obama but was not limited to them. He disputed the notion that Obama was "an architect or one of the principal strategists."

Emanuel himself later backed off his comments to the New Yorker, saying "like always [Wilhelm's] right and I'm wrong," ABCNews.com reported.

With files from the Associated Press