Jeff Franks, Reuters

HAVANA, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Cubans breathed a collective sigh of relief on Wednesday over U.S. President Barack Obama's re-election victory and expressed hope he might still bring a change in U.S. policy toward Cuba that many expected after he won his first term in 2008.

They generally supported him over Republican candidate Mitt Romney because they feared Romney would be the second coming of President George W. Bush, who toughened the longstanding U.S. trade embargo and hardened relations with the Cuban government during his time in the White House.

"Bush made it really hard for us economically and even to see family who live in the United States. If Romney had won most of the people here would have been really sad," said Havana domestic worker Violeta Gutierrez as she washed dishes in her employer's kitchen.