The Hill News

Freshman Rep. Joseph Cao (R-La.) revealed a surprising detail in a personal profile to be published on Sunday: He did not know the two leaders of his party in Congress before being elected in 2008.

Cao, a Republican representing a heavily Democratic district in New Orleans, was a political newcomer before his House campaign against then-indicted Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.)

He was so green, in fact, that he didn't know House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) or Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) or two high-profile Democrats: House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (Mass.) and former Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (N.Y.)

 "I didn't know who John Boehner was, or Eric Cantor," Cao told the Washington Post. "Mr. Frank, Mr. Rangel, these were all brand-new names to me. Everything is brand-new to me. I'd never heard of the committee system."

Cao, a former Jesuit seminarian and lawyer, faces a tough reelection battle in the fall, even though Republicans are expected to make large gains nationally. He faces state Rep. Cedric Richmond (D) in the general election.