MOSCOW, September 15. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has wished US presidential candidate from the Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton, to cross the finish line in the election race and not to drop the relay baton.

"It is a fundamental position of ours not to delve into the details of the US presidential election campaign," Zakharova said about US President Barack Obama’s statement to the effect Clinton would be able to endure the whole presidential term if she emerged the winner. "As for Obama’s statement, it is most important the relay baton should not be dropped and no decisions made to stage a re-run of the race."

Zakharova made a clear allusion to an incident at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where during qualification heats one of the US women athletes dropped the relay baton and the whole team placed last, lagging behind the main group by 20 seconds. The appeal panel of the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) then ruled that the US athlete was elbowed by a rival and allowed them another go. The US team eventually placed first.

"Did Obama watch the Olympics?" Zakharova wondered.

On September 13 Obama held a sort of a warmup session for the followers of the Democratic Party at an election rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He mostly praised Clinton, whom he would like to see as his successor in the White House, and strongly criticized her Republican rival, Donald Trump. Obama made a telling hint he had no doubts about Clinton’s physique and declared that he was ready to pass the relay baton, adding Clinton would surely make it to the finish line.