DENVER — Yesterday, members of the Illinois delegation were talking tough about their frustration with Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who on Monday was back in Chicago announcing he would be rewriting a state ethics bill as state officials at the Democratic Convention were focused on supporting their former Springfield colleague’s run for the White House.

But when the governor came to Denver today, those steely positions softened under the weight of some bear-hug diplomacy.

Though a Chicago Tribune reporter rebuffed the governor’s embrace, the governor did get his paws on state Democratic Party chairman Michael Madigan — whose daughter, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, has been rumored as a potential opponent to Blagojevich.

Michael Madigan gets hug from Blagojevich, with Jesse Jackson Jr. watching