FACTBOX-U.S. reaction to Russia's election

(Reuters) - Following is reaction from U.S. officials and presidential candidates to the election of Dmitry Medvedev as Russia's next president. Medvedev vows to continue the policies of Vladimir Putin.

WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN GORDON JOHNDROE

"Dmitry Medvedev was elected president of Russia yesterday. The United States looks forward to working with him."

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TOM CASEY

"We'll have to see what new politics or ideas he (Medvedev) brings to office, and certainly, see who else is in his government, and look forward to the opportunity to meet with them and work with them."

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

"The Russian election, and I use that term loosely, was conducted and, as we all knew, the protege of Vladimir Putin was selected the new president."

"These elections were clearly rigged. The opposition was repressed."

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

"Mr. Medvedev has said some hopeful sounding things in the course of his campaign, and the job of a new American president will be to test these words, to see whether they could mark a new approach in Russian politics and foreign policy.

"But we have to do this with our eyes open."

SEN. BARACK OBAMA, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

"I am disappointed that this election was not fully free and fair because of the absence of a free media, and the harassment of opposition figures and political parties. Going forward, we must continue to support democracy and civil society in Russia, while working with Dmitry Medvedev."

(Compiled by JoAnne Allen in Washington; editing by Alan Elsner)