U.S. Rep. Tom Price says the House GOP is divided between red-state Republicans and blue-state Republicans.

And the Roswell Republican told WMAL radio in Washington on Wednesday that the chamber needs leaders from red states.

Price stopped short of saying Ohio's John Boehner should not be re-elected as speaker on Thursday. But his comments were a clear dig at Boehner after the speaker supported a so-called fiscal cliff deal that most House Republicans opposed.

Price noted that an overwhelming majority of the Republicans who joined Democrats in supporting the deal come from states that President Barack Obama won in November. The top four House Republicans, including Boehner, hail from Obama states.

One of them, Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, defeated Price in November to become Republican Conference chairwoman.

Tags: House of Representatives, Tom Price, Congressman Tom Price