There Is Still Hope
A new independent poll in Venezuela shows that opposition to (T)Hugo Chavez's constitutional changes is growing and that more people oppose the changes than approve of them. There are still eight days to go until the referendum. But if Chavez does lose the referendum, it means that there is still hope for the people of Venezuela.
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has lost his lead eight days before a referendum on ending his term limit, an independent pollster said on Saturday, in a swing in voter sentiment against the Cuba ally.
Forty-nine percent of likely voters oppose Chavez's proposed raft of constitutional changes to expand his powers, compared with 39 percent in favor, a survey by respected pollster Datanalisis showed.
Just weeks ago, Chavez had a 10-point lead for his proposed changes in the OPEC nation that must be approved in a referendum, the polling company said.
Despite the swing, company head Luis Vicente Leon said he did not rule out a comeback by the popular president.
Chavez has trounced the opposition at the polls on average once a year and can deploy a huge state-backed machinery to get out the vote, Leon said.
Still, the survey was the latest blow to Chavez. He has suffered a series of defections over his plan, including an ex-defense minister who had restored him to power after a brief 2002 putsch but who called Chavez's reforms a new "coup."
There is the political machinery that Chavez has and there is always the possibility of chicanery at the polls as well, since Chavez essentially owns all of that infrastructure. But this is the first hopeful sign I have seen yet from Venezuela.
World news | Gaius Saturday, 24 November , 2007
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This ain’t Hell, but you can see it from here » Is Chavez losing the referendum? — Saturday, 24 November , 2007 @ 9:38 pm
By Quilly Mammoth, Saturday, 24 November , 2007 @ 4:17 pm
When you can use Army vehicles to pick up your voters and take them to the polling place it makes a big difference. The polls may be right, but (T)Hugo controls the polls that matter.