SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Friday he has done nothing wrong and plans to fight federal corruption charges. | Video | Text of Blagojevich's statement | Arrest creates market for Blago merchandise | Blagojevich in the Twin Cities

"I am absolutely certain that I will be vindicated," a defiant Blagojevich said in his first public statement since being arrested Dec. 9. "I am not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing and I intend to stay on the job."

"I will fight. I will fight. I will fight until I take my last breath. I have done nothing wrong," Blagojevich told reporters during a brief appearance in Chicago.

The embattled 52-year-old Democrat made it clear he has no intention of resigning, despite an avalanche of calls from his colleagues to step down. A House committee met for 10 hours this week in an attempt to determine whether he should be impeached and kicked out of office.

Analysts and lawmakers said his fighting stance was a reflection of the way Blagojevich has approached battles throughout his tenure as governor - a matter of good versus evil.

"That's typical Rod Blagojevich from the way that he's behaved for the last six-plus years," University of Illinois-Springfield political scientist Kent Redfield.

"We've seen other instances where the governor wasn't operating in the same universe as everyone else was," added state Rep. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon.

Since being arrested and accused by federal prosecutors of attempting to profit from his power to fill Illinois' vacant U.S. Senate seat, Blagojevich has spent each day at his Chicago office, occasionally signing legislation and reviewing clemency cases.

"I am not going to quit a job that people hired me to do because of false accusations and a political lynch mob," said Blagojevich.

Without naming names, Blagojevich took aim at his rivals, accusing them of attempting to use his problems for political gain.

"I'm not going to do what my accusers and political enemies have been doing and that is, talk about this case in 30-second sound bites on `Meet the Press' and on the TV news," he said, apparently referring to Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who appeared on the Sunday morning talk show circuit last week.

Madigan, daughter of Blagojevich's legislative nemesis, House Speaker Michael Madigan, and a potential candidate for governor in 2010, had attempted to convince the Illinois Supreme Court that Blagojevich was unfit to continue serving. The high court denied her petition Wednesday.

Lawmakers said his refusal to quit would keep the state in limbo at a time when it faces significant economic problems.

"The state needs leadership and instead we heard we're in for a street fight," said state Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion. "I'm just flabbergasted by the whole thing."

Blagojevich acknowledged Friday that he's been left for dead by many since the bombshell allegations came to light.

"I know that there are some powerful forces arrayed against me. It's kind of lonely right now. But I have on my side the most powerful ally there is and it's the truth," he said. "And besides, I have the personal knowledge that I have not done anything wrong."

The governor, whose poll ratings have dipped into the single digits, had a message to the voters who put him in office.

"Sit back and take a deep breath and please reserve judgment," Blagojevich said. "I am dying to answer these charges. I am dying to show you how innocent I am."

State Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion, said Blagojevich probably did little to bolster his support among voters.

"I don't know that his statement would change anybody's mind about his actions as governor," Flider said.

Blagojevich's attorney, Edward Genson, says he will challenge the legality of court-ordered wiretaps, which represent the heart of the federal allegations against his client.

Transcripts of the tapes portray Blagojevich as a foul-mouthed schemer looking to cash in his power for campaign contributions or a higher paying job.

On Wednesday, Genson told members of the Illinois House impeachment committee that Blagojevich may have engaged in a lot of "jabbering" on the tapes, but that the governor didn't follow through on anything he said, meaning he did nothing illegal.

The impeachment committee took a three-day break Thursday to await word from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald on how much of the criminal complaint they will be able to use in their hearings.

The committee, which also is looking into whether Blagojevich abused his power in his management of state government, resumes its work Monday.

Despite the governor's vow to fight, Redfield believes Blagojevich will eventually be kicked out of office.

"The legislature will impeach him," Redfield said. "It's just a matter of how long it will take."