Barack Obama’s close ties to players in the murky world of Illinois politics led indirectly to the undoing of Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich.

A behind-the-scenes scramble has already begun to fill the Senate seats that will be left vacant by Barack Obama and Joe Biden when they are installed as president and vice-president.

In an effort to highlight some of Barack Obama’s more controversial associations, the Republican National Committee has created a Facebook spoof site called BarackBook.com.

Barack Obama’s education in the bare-knuckled and often tribal politics of Chicago says much about his ambition, as well as his ability to cultivate powerful mentors.