A senior Democratic official has told the Associated Press that President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Republican Congressman Ray LaHood of Illinois to be his transportation secretary. The 63 year-old LaHood did not seek re-election this fall after 14 years in the House. LaHood would be the second Republican that Obama has named to his Cabinet.

At the Republican Convention this summer, LaHood had some strong words about the Democrat Obama’s experience.

LAHOOD: Senator Obama’s a good fellow. Nobody disputes that. Nobody would dispute that. But folks, in every other thing that we do, when we look for a doctor, a dentist, a lawyer, a teacher - what do we look for? Experience. The only thing that people don’t ever care about experience is politics.

That was from a speech to Republican delegates in support of their party’s candidate for president. In the House, LaHood sometimes angered Republican leaders by refusing to follow the party line.