President Obama secured an endorsement from Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez on Sunday, in a move that may garner groans from the White House and the Obama campaign.
“I hope this doesn't harm Obama, but if I was from the United States, I’d vote for Obama,” Chavez said, according to Reuters.
Chavez, who is facing his own reelection fight and has been used by Republicans to attack Obama in recent months, said that if Obama were from Venezuela he would vote for him, as well.
“Obama is a good guy ... I think that if Obama was from Barlovento or some Caracas neighborhood, he’d vote for Chavez,” he told Venezuelan television, according to Reuters.
This attitude to an American president is a far cry from the days of calling President George W. Bush the “devil” and a “drunk.”
Obama said earlier this year that Chavez's actions in recent years have not had a "serious national security impact" on the U.S., comments that were criticized heavily by the Romney campaign and other Republicans. Romney called the statement "naive."
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