Chavez predicts 'inevitable' victory in recall referendum

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Tens of thousands of opponents of President Hugo Chavez marched through Venezuela's capital on Thursday, their biggest display of strength in campaigning ahead of a weekend referendum on his rule.

Chanting, "he's leaving, leaving, leaving," marchers wove through a city blanketed in posters urging citizens to vote on Sunday: "yes!" -- to recall Chavez -- or "no!" -- to leave him in office.

<snip>

Thursday marked the last day of campaigning for the referendum, and a final chance for a strong show of force against a leader whose resurgent popularity among the poor has made unseating him a tough battle. Security officials estimated the crowd of opponents at more than 100,000. Before the march, Chavez supporters set of powerful fireworks throughout the city, and the president predicted his "inevitable" victory in the referendum.

Addressing a news conference, Chavez lashed out as his opponents, calling them lackeys of the United States. He accused President Bush of funding the recall campaign; he said he wouldn't be surprised if the CIA was backing efforts to destabilize his government -- though he acknowledged he had "no proof."
http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=92259

[DU9598]

1. A March in Washington

the last week of October would be amazing. But, I suppose that resources are better spent on working the precincts getting out every last vote.

[Wabbajack]

2. Wow that's a lot of people

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. It sure doesn't seem to indicate

that Chavez's victory is 'inevitable'.

[PeaceProgProsp]

5. That's the rich part of Caracas. Those people just stepped out of

their houses and apartments and into the streets, and that's just about all of them.

There are way more poor people spread out all over the country who would have to walk 100s of miles to show their support for Chavez...and they've been doing that for weeks now.

[On the Road]

3. Chavez Has a Lot of Opponents

But it's nothing compared to his core supporters. I think he'll win.

[TankLV]

6. I pray that he wins.

We don't need another repuke stooge on the world stage.