Obama draws praise from Chavez, Putin -- and Castro family

October 9, 2012: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez speaks during a news conference after winning elections in Caracas. (REUTERS)

President Obama appears to getting reelection support from three world leaders notorious for their anti-American views.

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez, after winning a fourth term earlier this month, reportedly said he would vote for Obama and that the president would likely vote for him.

The socialist-leaning ruler also reportedly called Obama a “good guy.”

His support follows that of the Castro family, which has ruled Cuba under a communist dictatorship for more than 50 years.

In June, Mariela Castro, the daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro, said in a CNN interview, translated into English: “As a citizen of the world, I would like (Obama) to win.”

And Russian President Vladimir Putin -- who is back in Moscow's driver's seat after a stint as prime minister -- has said the reelection of Obama could improve political relations between the two countries.

He also reportedly called Obama a “genuine person" who "really wants to change much for the better."

However, Putin also told The Wall Street Journal he is prepared to work with Mitt Romney, who once called Russia the United States’ “No. 1 geopolitical foe.”

Putin characterized the Republican presidential nominee’s stance as "pre-election rhetoric."

While Obama certainly didn't ask for the support of any of those three leaders, the president has come to Russia's defense on the campaign trail. In his Democratic nomination speech last month, Obama mocked Romney's comment saying "you don't call Russia our number one enemy -- not Al Qaeda, Russia -- unless you're still stuck in a Cold War mind warp."

While some foreign leaders are watching the U.S. election and observing from afar, other foreign officials are planning to make a visit, supposedly to make sure things go smoothly. United Nations affiliates from Europe and central Asia are reportedly coming to the U.S. to monitor the Nov. 6 elections.

The monitors will go to polling stations to watch for voter suppression activities by conservative groups, according to The Hill newspaper.

The paper reports the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe -- a United Nations partner -- will deploy 44 monitors, part of a larger mission that will send an additional 80 to 90 members of parliament from nearly 30 countries.

Catherine Engelbrecht, founder and president of True the Vote, a conservative-leaning group seeking to crack down on election fraud, told The Hill: “These activist groups sought assistance not from American sources, but from the United Nations. The United Nations has no jurisdiction over American elections.”