Top House transport Dem distances himself from Obama

The top ranking Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is distancing himself from President Obama as he runs for reelection.

Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W. Va.), who has long been the highest ranking Democrat on transportation issues, is facing a tough race in a state where Obama has been unpopular for much of his tenure in office.

Rahall told The Hill on Wednesday that he agreed with former President George W. Bush more often than he has sided with Obama.

{mosads}“I probably have supported George Bush more than I have Barack Obama,” Rahall said. “Am I going to switch parties because of that? No. I’m a Democrat, born a Democrat, am a Democrat and will die a Democrat.”

The Hill’s Russell Berman has more on Rahall’s reelection challenges on the Ballot Box blog.