Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president, has warned that relations with the US could worsen if John McCain, the presumptive Republican candidate, wins this year's election.
"Sometimes one says, 'worse than Bush is impossible,' but we don't know," Chavez said in Caracas on Tuesday.
"McCain also seems to be a man of war."
However, the Venezuelan leader said he also hoped that the situation improves when George Bush, the US president, leaves the White House next year.
Chavez, who has called Bush "the devil", "a donkey" and 'Mr Danger" has accused the US of plotting overthrow him.
McCain has, in turn, described Chavez as a dictator who wants to emulate Fidel Castro, the retired Cuban leader.
Improved relations
Chavez warned that McCain represented the same mentality that characterised the "terrorist" Bush administration.
The Venezuelan leader said he had better communication with the administration of Bill Clinton, the former US president.
"Independently of who wins the elections, we are hopeful and it is within our plans to enter an era of better relations with the US government," he said.
"At the least one would hope for the level of relations we had with ex-President Clinton."
He did not mention Democratic hopefuls Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton.
Both are cautious about Chavez, although Obama has said he could meet him.