WASHINGTON-- President Obama was asked at his press conference on Tuesday whether he was "placing calls for your friend Rahm Emanuel for his mayoral campaign in Chicago?"

April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks asked the question several times in the past weeks to now former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. Gibbs promised to get back to her with an answer, but he never did, so she just asked Obama himself when she had the chance.

Obama's reply seems to suggest he made no calls, but the language he uses is not conclusive. Obama never directly said yes or no.

"I don't have to make calls for Rahm Emanuel. He seems to be doing just fine on his own. And, you know, he's been very busy shoveling snow out there. And I've been very impressed with that. I never saw him shoveling around here."