CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has weighed in on the U.S. presidential race, saying he prefers President Barack Obama.

Chavez also said in a televised interview that aired Sunday that he’d like to have “normal” relations with the U.S. government.

The Venezuelan leader says, in his words, “If I were American, I’d vote for Obama.”

Chavez is running for re-election, seeking another six years in office in an Oct. 7 vote. Democratic U.S. President Obama faces Republican Mitt Romney in his November re-election bid.

Venezuela has had tense relations with the U.S. for the years, and the two countries’ embassies have been without ambassadors since 2010.