Delaware Dem appreciates the Reid endorsement but …

Delaware Senate candidate Chris Coons said he appreciates the endorsement from Sen. Harry Reid, but perhaps that could have been worded a bit differently?

The Huffington Post reports this morning that Coons in an interview "sought to distance himself" from the Senate majority leader's unusual expression of support.

"I'm going to be very honest with you — Chris Coons, everybody knows him in the Democratic caucus. He's my pet. He's my favorite candidate," Reid told The Hill on Wednesday.

Coons said he would be an "independent voice" in the Senate if he defeats surprise Republican primary victor Christine O'Donnell, as many pundits of both stripes predict he will do.

Coons told the Huffington Post he's met Reid at least twice.

"When I first jumped into this race to the U.S. Senate, he and I had a very good, long conversation, and he has regularly called to check in and encourage me, and I'm grateful for his encouragement," he said. "But I'm running my own race for the people of Delaware, and I'm running to be an independent voice that will fight for Delaware's families and Delaware's concerns."