* It’s not a surprise that Gov. Blagojevich wasn’t invited to speak at the convention and Obama protege Alexi Giannoulias was. It is kind of a surprise that both Hynes and AG Madigan will be on the stage, however…

Democratic National Committee officials delivered a high-profile snub to Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday, announcing that three of his biggest potential rivals for re-election would be given speaking roles on the opening night of the party’s nominating convention.

But the beleaguered two-term governor, whose administration faces multiple federal investigations involving jobs, contracts and fundraising, is not scheduled to speak at the convention.

DNC officials said state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, a longtime loyalist of Sen. Barack Obama, will be among the opening night speakers. Also on stage that night will be Comptroller Dan Hynes and Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan.

Approval for the choice of convention speakers rests with Obama’s campaign since he is the presumptive presidential nominee. Convention officials did not respond to a query about how the names were chosen. Obama spokesman Justin DeJong declined to comment on Blagojevich’s lack of a speaking role.

I wonder why DeJong, a former Blagojevich spokesperson, wouldn’t comment? Heh.

* I haven’t really had much dealings with the Obama campaign over the past several months, but this week’s attempt to run down rumors of Saturday’s Springfield rally showed just how secretive and tight-lipped it is. I even resorted to a lighthearted shaming attempt on an Obama spokesperson’s Facebook page in order to provoke a return phone call. Didn’t work.

And check this out…

The Obama campaign said Tuesday the event on Saturday will be free and open to the public, but the exact time was yet to be announced. […]

Mike Daly, chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said the event time he’s been told is 1 p.m., but that may be tentative. As he did a year and a half ago, Durbin will introduce Obama to the crowd, Daly said.

* A spokesman for the state Republican Party gets in a dig…

“I think it’s a shame that our state’s elected senator only returns home when he needs a stage for a political event,” Trover said.

* And another Republican admits the obvious…

McCain plans to focus on states that could be close races in the November election, said state Rep. Dan Brady, a Bloomington Republican helping lead McCain’s Illinois push.

Brady said Illinois probably won’t likely be visited much by the Republican candidate.

“Senator McCain has not seen Illinois as a battleground state,” Brady said.

* Obama’s Springfield event will coincide with the annual Old Capitol Blues & Barbeque music and food event…

“I think both events can work well together,” said Victoria Clemons, executive director of Downtown Springfield Inc., which is sponsoring the event with the Illinois Central Blues Club.

“We see it (Barack Obama’s appearance) as a potential very positive thing for the event,” said Dave Blanchette of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, which runs the Old State Capitol. “You’re going to have probably close to 15,000 people downtown who might otherwise not have been here, and many of them will be hungry.”

I suppose they’ll shut down the bands during the speech.