Why would Governor Blagojevich and the president-elect not discuss Senate succession?

Can anyone really believe that Governor Blagojevich and president-elect Obama did not discuss at some point whom the Governor should appoint to Obama's vacant Senate seat? The two had long been allies at the highest levels of Illinois Democratic politics. It simply defies logic to think that Blagojevich would not ask Obama's opinion as to a possible successor or that Obama would not want to place an ally in the Senate to help with his programs.

Jake Tapper writes that in an appearance on Fox News Chicago on November 23, 2008, David Axelrod,

While insisting that the President-elect had not expressed a favorite to
replace him, and his inclination was to avoid being a "kingmaker," Axelrod
said, "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 now says that this is no longer operative. He "was mistake" about any such conversation between the governor and president-elect.

In looking at Axelrod's original statement in hindsight, his intent seems very clear. He admitted the obvious, that the two talked about successors, but made it clear that Obama was not paying to play. Obama was pushing no candidate as successor; he did not want to be a "kingmaker." Thus, Blagojevich's ultimate appointee would not be the result of any action by Obama.

This clearly suggests that the Obama team was very aware and concerned that Blagojevich was trying to "sell" the Senate position. Axelrod was attempting to protect Obama from any allegation that he participated in that sale in any way.

Apparently, the boss decided that even having had a very safe conversation with Blagojevich with no attempt to act as "kingmaker" was too close to the sale, so he insisted that he had no discussion at all with the governor.