Perhaps this is President Barack Obama's way of returning the love.

His re-election campaign confirmed that they invited Scott Van Duzer, a pizza shop owner who lifted the president off the ground in a bear hug last month, as a guest for the final presidential debate Monday night.

Obama faces GOP nominee Mitt Romney for the third of three debates at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida.

The president met Van Duzer during a campaign stop to Big Apple Pizza in Fort Pierce, Florida on September 6.

"Scott, what's going on man," the president said as he walked in. "Scott, let me tell you, you are like the biggest pizza shop owner I've ever seen."

Van Duzer, 46, stands 6-foot-3, weighs 260 pounds and says he can bench press 350 pounds, according to a pool reporter who was at the restaurant.

"Everybody look at these guns," Obama said, pointing to Van Duzer's chest. "If I eat your pizza will I look like that?"

Laughing, Van Duzer hugged the president, arched his back and hoisted him off his feet.

"Look at that!" Obama said after he was back on the ground. "Man are you a powerlifter or what?"