He's charged with keeping the house of Representatives in Republican hands and helping keep President Obama out of the White house. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was in New York City Monday and in an exclusive interview with YNN, he talked taxes, the 2012 race, and why even a conservative Republican from Virginia feels at home in New York City. Our Josh Robin reports.

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MIDTOWN, N.Y. -- He's often seen as the Republican attack dog. And in an interview Monday, the House Majority Leader, continued to growl.

Representative Eric Cantor said, "The kinds of rhetoric and policies being put forward by the white house frankly are politics of division."

Especially, Cantor said, President Obama's call for higher taxes. An eye toward his audience, Cantor also criticized Wall Street reforms. But some here aren't so warm to a new Republican move that could slash mass transit funding.

“New York of course sends more money to Washington, DC than it gets back, what would you do, you said you understand the importance of it, what will you do to make sure that New York gets it fair share when it comes to transit dollars?” asked Josh.

“We're dealing with a situation in Washington, as everyone knows, there just isn't enough money to address the needs that we have in the transportation arena, health care arena, or you pick," said Cantor.

Although Cantor is from Virginia, he went to graduate school at Columbia, living on the Upper West Side. He also met his wife here. And though many would say that his policies hurt New York City, and urban America in general, Cantor strongly disagrees.

"It's the destination for our markets. And the policies that have been in place over the last several years by the Obama administration have frankly sent a signal to the world that maybe America’s not open for business. and what a Republican candidate will say is we are open for business," said Cantor.

As for 2012, Cantor hasn't endorsed anyone. Last month he said Republicans should quickly settle on a candidate. Cantor insisted that the drawn out process will still produce a nominee stronger than Obama. And finally, Cantor gushed about New York, springtime in SoHo, breakfast in the Village.

"People say you can be anything you want to be in New York, do you feel comfortable here even as the Republican Majority Leader?” asked Josh.

"Well, listen, it is certainly a wonderful place to visit. I think as a Republican, you know what you're walking into when you when you come to New York,” said Cantor.