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Obama’s staff shocked after bear hug

Obama’s staff shocked after bear hug

President Barack Obama’s campaign staff were stunned yesterday after the US President was given an intense bear hug by a hulking Florida pizza shop owner.

Obama was hoisted in the air by Scott Van Duzer during a bus tour of Florida according to The Daily Mail.

"Look at that!" the president said once the 113kg restaurateur had placed him back on the ground.

"Scott, let me tell you, you are like the biggest pizza shop owner I've ever seen," Obama said.

"Man are you a powerlifter or what?"

Van Duzer, owner of Big Apple Pizza and Pasta, later told reporters he had voted for Obama in 2008 and planned to do so again in November, despite being registered with the president's rival Republican Party.

"I don't vote party line, I vote who I feel comfortable with, and I do feel extremely comfortable with him," Van Duzer said, adding he had been "just overcome with excitement", and hoisted the president aloft.

Obama said he had stopped his black armoured bus at the pizza shop as Van Duzer had mobilised a huge community blood donors operation, receiving commendations from the White House and the US surgeon general.

"Here's an example of somebody who is doing well but he's also giving back," he said. "What we know is that the guy's just got a big heart along with big pecs."