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Showing Original Post only (View all)Chavez's socialist rule at risk as Venezuelans vote [View all]
Source: Reuters
By Daniel Wallis and Todd Benson
October 7, 2012
CARACAS (Reuters) - Hugo Chavez loyalists blew bugles in a wake up call for voters on Sunday as the Venezuelan leader faced the biggest electoral challenge yet to his socialist rule from a young rival tapping into discontent over crime and cronyism.
Henrique Capriles, a centrist state governor, edged toward the still-popular Chavez in final polls thanks to a vigorous campaign that united the opposition and made him its best chance of ending the president's 14-year tenure.
Chavez has used record oil revenue to support ideological allies around the world while preaching a fiercely anti-American line, so the election is being watched eagerly from the United States to Belarus and Iran.
Queues formed at some polling centers long before they opened, and despite a few delays voting was going smoothly.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/07/us-venezuela-election-idUSBRE89601Z20121007