(22 Sep 2012) Thousands of cheering Venezuelans packed the streets of Miranda State on Friday to support the opposition candidate in the country's upcoming presidential election.
With the 7 October presidential election just over two weeks away, Henrique Capriles is intensifying his efforts to unseat President Hugo Chavez, who is seeking his third consecutive term.
Conflicting polls show Chavez either leading or roughly tied with his rival.
Chavez first won the presidency in 1998 with promises to sweep away corrupt, entrenched political parties and help the poor in the oil-rich country.
The former soldier-turned-politician won a resounding re-election victory in 2006 with about 63 percent of the vote as the economy was booming amid a rise in the country's oil earnings.
Chavez has remained popular in part thanks to social programmes including state-run grocery stores, medical clinics staffed by Cuban doctors and cash benefits for poor families.
But in Los Teques, the capital of the northern Miranda state, the crowd was cheering on the challenger.
"I have never lost my vote, and I will say that he will have a sweeping win. The skinny guy is going to win, and Hugo Chavez is crying out for the presidency," said Yurigisel Esechuria, a Los Teques resident.
Others chanted "Capriles President, you can see it, you can feel it."
And one young supporter said she favoured Capriles over Chavez because "he has a new approach, he sees no colour. He is not obsessed with the colour red. He doesn't force you to go into a march."
Capriles has promised a break with the past, if elected.
"Our people of Miranda State know that with me as president we will get what we want. The end of violence in Miranda and also in Venezuela," he shouted to a cheering crowd.
Capriles was elected governor of Miranda state in 2008.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
