Venezuelan presidential campaign takes off: Chavez leads massive rally
President Hugo Chávez shook off his health problems to lead a massive rally on Sunday while opposition rival Henrique Capriles took to remote regions for the formal launch of Venezuela's presidential race.
Unable to repeat the frenetic campaigning of past elections due to his struggle with cancer, a fist-pumping Chávez nevertheless made a rare appearance at a rally in central Venezuela to underline he is fit enough for the Oct. 7 vote.
“The Bolivarian hurricane has begun!” he roared to tens of thousands of supporters in the central town of Maracay, referring to his personal idol and Venezuela's independence hero, Simon Bolívar.
Capriles, a young ex-state governor seeking to end 13 years of populist rule in the South American OPEC member, flew to two distant spots near the Brazilian and Colombian borders to highlight alleged government neglect of remote communities.
“Venezuela is a blessed country. We just lack a good government,” he told indigenous inhabitants of the remote San Francisco de Yuruani hamlet, close to the majestic, flat-topped Roraima mountain in a barely populated region near Brazil.
With three months to the ballot, Chávez has a two-digit lead in most polls. Yet there is a large percentage of undecided voters and one pollster this week put the pair head-to-head.
After three operations to remove two malignant tumours during a year-long battle with cancer, the ever-upbeat Chávez, 57, has in recent weeks declared himself in full recovery and his energy levels appear to be surging just in time for the campaign.
“I want to thank Christ the Redeemer for allowing me to get through this difficult year,” he said, after riding on the top of a truck for several hours through streets lined with ecstatic supporters against a backdrop of lush hills.
Most analysts agree the presidential vote is shaping into the closest since Chávez took power in 1999, turning himself into one of the world's most controversial leaders with his anti-American rhetoric and radical nationalization policies.
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That is because it looks like he is still on the steroids used to supercharge his immune system.
OK while it lasts, not so good when he comes off them. And I think he is already past the 'best buy' date.
Dead Man Walking until the end of the year!
From the deep South....
From the deepest of my heart......
I truly wish that the same illness afflicting Mr. Chavez hits tenfold each and every of your “loved ones”.
Thank you for those kind words.
As an atheist and a scientist I know that many things affect your health and it is much of a lottery as to how it all turns out. Your 'wishes' have nothing whatsoever to do with it.
At least I am not a two faced lier, such as yourself: what you see is what you get. And if you don't like it tough.
You can't even write a threat properly nevertheless I reported your abuse and asked that they THINK seriously about canceling your account because all you do on here is make stupid threats.. get a life ! THINK
Although I am an atheist I was once a confirmed Christian and I do live my life by some of the tenets of Christ and some of those in the Old Testament. Especially an eye for an eye if somebody upsets my wife or causes her actual bodily harm. This happened once but the moron who did it will not be doing it to anyone ever again.
I did not give Chavez cancer. If you believe him the USA did.
However, I despise the crook and suspect that my prediction will come true given the messages about his health coming from various quarters.
I understand why MrLayback has asked for your account to be terminated but I am totally disinterested in what the result is.
If I can't deal with some deluded pillock who thinks a 1956ish LR26 French originated watch, the mechansim of which was then hacked by the Ruskies to provide a stop / synchronising facility and then called a Navigator's watch is still working perfectly without ANY servicing and ESPECIALLY oiling of the 15 jewels then it's time to call it a day. At least it is dead right twice a day.
Do I think that 'I don't Think' can think through the pun in the last paragraph? I don't think so.
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