Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday hinted he would like Barack Obama to be re-elected as president of the United States, dpa reported.
"I have a particular liking for one of the candidates, but that's my personal affair," Medvedev said during a live interview on Russian television.
"I am depending on him to continue his good work," he added.
In a March conversation between the Russian and American presidents, Obama allegedly told Medvedev that Russia might expect more flexibility from the US if he is re-elected on November 6.
Romney seized on Obama's off-the-cuff comments, which were seemingly broadcast accidentally by a live microphone, as evidence of excessive willingness by US Democrats to compromise with the Kremlin.
According to Russia's state-controlled media, Medvedev has excellent personal relations with Obama, not least because both were law professors at top universities before going into politics.