Matt Romney, son of the presidential candidate, was in enemy territory this week: Moscow, reportedly for to search for investors for his California-based real estate company.
Mitt Romney has called Russia America's "number one geopolitical foe." Nevertheless, his son brought a message from his father to President Vladimir Putin saying his father wants "good relations" if he wins the election on Tuesday, The Moscow Times reported an unnamed informed source as saying.
Romney has criticized President Barack Obama's "reset" policy with Russia, which aimed to improve very sour relations by cooperating on issues of mutual interest.
However, despite Obama's signing of a nuclear arms and civil nuclear cooperation treaties with Russia, as well as obtaining Moscow's help over Afghanistan and on sanctions against Iran, Putin issued a stream of anti-American rhetoric ahead of his reelection in May. He's accused Washington of seeking to influence Russian politics and recently shut down the operations of USAID and broadcasting for US-funded Radio Liberty in Russia.
Romney has attacked Obama for asking Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to convey to Putin that he would have more "flexibility" after the election to deal with Russia's concerns about US plans for a missile defense system.
The Republican candidate has promised more "backbone" from Washington. Maybe that's why Putin has endorsed Obama.