Ratings boost for Chavez ahead of Venezuelan vote
Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:53am EDT
Tight race for Sept. 26 parliament elections
* Socialist president's popularity recovers
By Frank Jack Daniel
CARACAS, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Polls show Venezuela's parliamentary election is a tight race between President Hugo Chavez's allies and his opponents, but Chavez's rising popularity and favorable election rules may tip the balance.
Chavez's traditionally high popularity -- in the 60s and 70s percentage range during his best moments of a more than decade-long rule -- was hit this year by a recession, electricity and water supply problems, and high crime. But new polls show that a recovery in his personal ratings, which began several months ago, continued in August, giving him cause for optimism ahead of the Sept. 26 National Assembly vote, which is seen as an indicator for the 2012 presidential election.
In recent weeks, Chavez has begun campaigning in earnest and after months of austerity the government has started pumping up the import sector, as well as offering cheap credit to consumers, creating some sense of economic recovery.
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A new survey by pro-government pollster GIS XXI said 52.6 percent of respondents planned to support candidates allied to Chavez, while 47.4 percent backed the opposition.
More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN129936720100914?rpc=401