Jesse Jackson Jr. identified as Senate Candidate No. 5

Several news outlets are reporting that Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) is the unnamed person in the complaint against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich identified as "Senate Candidate 5."

NBC News reported that "a law enforcement official confirms" that the person referred to is Jackson. But the same report warns that federal officials say that they have "no evidence, other than statements made by Blagojevich," about whether Candidate 5 actually made any improper approaches to the governor. No conversations with Candidate 5 were ever picked up on any of the bugs or wiretaps, NBC reports.

Jackson's office put out a statement in response to the new development. "Since the federal investigation of the governor is ongoing, it would be inappropriate for me to comment beyond my initial statement," Jackson said. "However, I reject and denounce pay-to-play politics and have no involvement whatsoever in any wrongdoing. I won't hesitate to cooperate fully and completely with the federal government's investigation," he said.

Blagojevich claimed that Candidate 5 reportedly offered the governor up to $1 million to name him to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, but ABC News also reported that there was no evidence directly linking Jackson to any conversation with the governor.

Jackson said today that he had been contacted by federal prosecutors on Tuesday who he said "asked me to come in and share with them my insights and thoughts about the selection process," according to ABC News. When asked if he was Candidate No. 5, Jackson said, "I don't know," but he did say he was told "I am not a target of this investigation."

Jackson also said he agreed to talk with federal investigators "as quickly as possible" after he consulted with a lawyer, according to ABC News.

Jackson, 43, served as a co-chair of Obama's presidential campaign, and Obama has called for the governor to step aside from his job.

A new poll released last month showed Jackson was the statewide favorite to fill Obama's seat. The Zogby telephone poll was conducted after the election and found that 21 percent of likely voters across Illinois think the governor should appoint Jackson to fill the seat. Duckworth, the director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, was second with 14 percent.

The poll, commissioned and released by Jackson, showed him with a 43 percent favorable and a 22 percent unfavorable rating among likely voters. Duckworth had a 31 percent favorable and 9 percent unfavorable rating. Jackson's favorability ratings in the poll also beat two other members of Congress, Danny Davis (who is African American) and Jan Schakowsky, both of whom have been mentioned as replacements. 

Jackson has made no secret of his interest in the seat. "I'd be honored, I'd be humbled and yes, I would [be interested]'' Jackson told CNBC's Donny Deutsch. "But it is the decision of the governor of the state of Illinois," Jackson quickly added. "He'll have to make that judgment."