ITALY: Barack Obama no doubt could have lived without the nod he recently received from now-retired Cuban president Fidel Castro, who called the Democratic senator "the most advanced candidate" in America's presidential race.
On Thursday, John McCain received the type of backing from a foreign leader that he, too, would just as soon forgo.
Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, at a joint news conference with President George Bush in Rome, initially demurred when asked about the US election.
"I cannot express any preference with regard to an electoral campaign going on in another country," he said.
However Mr Berlusconi quickly shifted his stance, acknowledging a preference for the Republican candidate based on a "very selfish reason". If the Arizona senator wins, Mr Berlusconi no longer will be the oldest national leader when the Group of 8 industrial nations meet, "because McCain is a month older than me".
Mr McCain turns 72 on August 29th while Mr Berlusconi will be 72 on September 29th. -