Barack Obama received a somewhat surprising endorsement in early October when Hugo Chavez called said, "I'd vote for Obama." In 2009, Chavez shook hands with the president and gave him the book "Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent" during a summit.
Election 2012: Postcard from Caracas —
Barack Obama received a somewhat surprising endorsement in early October when Hugo Chavez called said, "I'd vote for Obama." In 2009, Chavez shook hands with the president and gave him the book "Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent" during a summit.
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The two countries have had a contentious relationship for years, but in 2012 they have something in common -- a general election. Chavez recently won a third consecutive term as president of Venezuela. Here, supporters celebrate after receiving news of his victory in Caracas on October 7.
Election 2012: Postcard from Caracas —
The two countries have had a contentious relationship for years, but in 2012 they have something in common -- a general election. Chavez recently won a third consecutive term as president of Venezuela. Here, supporters celebrate after receiving news of his victory in Caracas on October 7.
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Journalist Girish Gupta says Venezuela is still recovering from the hangover of the brutal campaign between Hugo Chavez (pictured in a Caracas mural) and opposition challenger Henrique Capriles.
Election 2012: Postcard from Caracas —
Journalist Girish Gupta says Venezuela is still recovering from the hangover of the brutal campaign between Hugo Chavez (pictured in a Caracas mural) and opposition challenger Henrique Capriles.
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Gupta says Chavez welcomed his opponent to the ring in February by calling him a "low-life pig" who would be "pulverized" -- and there were no debates in Venezuela as Chavez felt Capriles was below him. Here, a poster of Capriles is defaced by Chavez supporters.
Election 2012: Postcard from Caracas —
Gupta says Chavez welcomed his opponent to the ring in February by calling him a "low-life pig" who would be "pulverized" -- and there were no debates in Venezuela as Chavez felt Capriles was below him. Here, a poster of Capriles is defaced by Chavez supporters.
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Gupta says some Venezuelans are alarmed by Romney's anti-Venezuela rhetoric. The Republican hopeful branded the Chavez government a "threat to national security" earlier this year, adding that Chavez had spread "dictatorships and tyranny throughout Latin America."
Election 2012: Postcard from Caracas —
Gupta says some Venezuelans are alarmed by Romney's anti-Venezuela rhetoric. The Republican hopeful branded the Chavez government a "threat to national security" earlier this year, adding that Chavez had spread "dictatorships and tyranny throughout Latin America."
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Romney's running mate, Paul Ryan, has said their administration would be "tough on Chavez," a message that resonates with Venezuela's hard-line opposition to the president that has helmed the country since 1999.
Election 2012: Postcard from Caracas —
Romney's running mate, Paul Ryan, has said their administration would be "tough on Chavez," a message that resonates with Venezuela's hard-line opposition to the president that has helmed the country since 1999.
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Despite Chavez's recent endorsement of Obama, not everyone approves of the job Washington is doing. Here, protesters hold a poster reading "killers of Libyan people" with portraits of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in Caracas, Venezuela, on April 13, 2011.
Election 2012: Postcard from Caracas —
Despite Chavez's recent endorsement of Obama, not everyone approves of the job Washington is doing. Here, protesters hold a poster reading "killers of Libyan people" with portraits of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in Caracas, Venezuela, on April 13, 2011.
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The lubricant between Caracas and Washington is the world's highest oil reserves, says Gupta, which Chavez is sitting on. Some analysts believe Obama is more willing to tolerate the higher gas prices Venezuela needs in order to keep its oil-dependent economy from collapsing.
Election 2012: Postcard from Caracas —
The lubricant between Caracas and Washington is the world's highest oil reserves, says Gupta, which Chavez is sitting on. Some analysts believe Obama is more willing to tolerate the higher gas prices Venezuela needs in order to keep its oil-dependent economy from collapsing.
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The nadir of recent U.S.-Venezuela relations came in 2006, when Chavez called then-president George W. Bush "the devil" at the United Nations General Assembly.
Election 2012: Postcard from Caracas —
The nadir of recent U.S.-Venezuela relations came in 2006, when Chavez called then-president George W. Bush "the devil" at the United Nations General Assembly.
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But after years of shaky relations, Chavez appears prepared to start again, saying: "With the likely triumph of Obama, and the extreme right defeated both here and there [in the U.S.], I hope we can start a new period of normal relations."
Election 2012: Postcard from Caracas —
But after years of shaky relations, Chavez appears prepared to start again, saying: "With the likely triumph of Obama, and the extreme right defeated both here and there [in the U.S.], I hope we can start a new period of normal relations."
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