RPT-Obama picks LaHood for transportation-source

(Fixing typo in first paragraph)

WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - U.S President-elect Barack Obama has selected retiring U.S. Rep Ray LaHood as his transportation secretary, which would make him the second Republican in the Obama Cabinet, a senior Democrat said on Wednesday.

Obama has offered LaHood of Illinois the post and the lawmaker is expected to accept the position, with a formal announcement by the president-elect within days, the senior Democrat said.

LaHood would join Defense Secretary Bob Gates as the second Republican in Democrat Obama's Cabinet.