Barack Obama given bear hug lift-off by Florida supporter Scott Van Duzer

Campaigning Barack Obama has been given a voter lift, when he was raised off the ground by an enthusiastic supporter in Florida.

President Barack Obama was lifted in a bear hug by 1.90 m-tall (6.2 ft) pizza shop owner Scott Van Duzer during a bus tour.

“Scott, let me tell you, you are like the biggest pizza shop owner I’ve ever seen,” said the president.

Despite being a registered voter of the rival Republican party, Scott Van Duzer said he would vote for the Democrat.

“I don’t vote party line, I vote who I feel comfortable with, and I do feel extremely comfortable with him,” the 46-year-old owner of the Big Apple Pizza in Fort Pierce said.

He added that he rushed to embrace the president because he was “overcome with excitement”.

Scott Van Duzer also runs a community blood donation operation, prompting Barack Obama to say he had “a big heart, along with big pecs”.

He said that Barack Obama had stayed for about 20 minutes, and that it had been a great meeting.

The president ordered 20 pizzas and paid with cash, he said.