Republican, Democrat joust over who is closer to Obama

Reps. John Mica (R-Fla.) and Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) had a lighthearted moment after passage of perhaps their final bill together as the top members of their respective parties on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday. 

Celebrating passage of a bill to block U.S. airlines from having to participate in a European emission trading system, Mica asked Rahall if the compromise on the legislation that was reached with the Senate is good enough for the Democratic White House. 

"You're closer to the White House than I am," Mica said to Rahall, who did not publicly endorse President Obama's reelection bid. 

"I saw all those pictures of you with Obama," Mica continued, referring to 2012 campaign commercials run against Rahall in conservative West Virginia. 

Mica triggered laughs when he later said, "I had more."

Rep. Sandy Adams (R-Fla.) ran ads against Mica in their member-versus-member primary featuring Obama thanking the GOP chairman for his role in the passage of a $105 billion transportation bill earlier this year. 

But Mica won the primary, and later secured his 11th term in the House. Mica is term-limited as chairman of the Transportation panel.