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By the end of the day today, both Hugo Chávez and Henrique Capriles will both be officially registered as candidates in the Venezuelan presidential elections. Capriles completed his registration on Sunday and, in a display of the candidate’s vitality, led thousands of supporters on a march through the capital. Chávez has scheduled his registration for today, after weeks of speculation about whether he would do it in person. Capriles has continued his casa a casa campaign, and his trademark shirts have caught on amongst his supporters. Because of his illness Chávez has been unable to hit the campaign trail, and, as a result, his party has struggled without him. Dan Rather’s recent report on Chávez’s worsening health restarted discussions about the president’s possible successors. Controversy has already begun, as politicians accuse pollsters of rigging their results. The opposition has also denounced a recent court decision which will prevent two parties from supporting Capriles. Venezuelans in Miami will have trouble casting their votes, as the government has decided not to open a polling station in Florida for the elections.
Venezuela opposition floods streets in support of presidential candidate, The Miami Herald
In an impressive show of force that closed down much of the capital and overflowed the central plaza with supporters, Venezuelan presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, 39, registered his candidacy on Sunday.
Chavez to launch Venezuela candidacy in person, Reuters
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez will personally go to register his candidacy for the October 7 election on Monday, officials said, dampening rumors he might be too unwell from cancer or considering a successor.
In Venezuela, casual shirts worn by opposition’s presidential candidate a boon for seamstress, The Washington Post
In a home with bare brick walls and a zinc roof, a 58-year-old seamstress with short, curly hair is sewing shirts for a young politician who she thinks has a good shot at unseating Hugo Chavez as president of Venezuela.
“Virtual” Chavez campaigns for re-election in Venezuela, Reuters
Hugo Chavez’s voice booms out from loudspeakers singing the Venezuelan national anthem. A life-sized puppet of the socialist president dances on stage.
A report by Dan Rather fires up the Caracas rumor mill, Foreign Policy
The news hit Venezuela’s gossip-sphere with a thud: According to “a highly respected source close to Chávez who is in a position to know his medical condition and history,” Hugo Chávez’s cancer has now “entered the end stage.”
Venezuela ‘poll wars’ rage as presidential race heats up, Reuters
Venezuelan politicians are accusing pollsters of rigging surveys ahead of President Hugo Chavez’s October re-election bid, threatening to make the polarized South American nation’s campaign even nastier.
Venezuela court decisions shake up 2 small parties, Chavez rival denounces ‘judicial tricks’, The Washington Post
Venezuela’s Supreme Court has issued decisions shaking up the leadership of two small political parties, apparently preventing them from backing opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles.
Venezuela Won’t Open Miami Voting Center For Elections, Businessweek
Venezuela’s National Electoral Council decided not to open a voting center in Miami for presidential elections Oct. 7, forcing voters registered in the U.S. Southeast to travel about 670 miles (1,072 kilometers) to New Orleans.
