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Electoral Council: Chavez Wins Venezuela Re-Election

Oct. 7, 2012 10:45pm Erica Ritz

Electoral Council Declares Hugo Chavez Victor of Venezuela Election

(AP File Photo)

(TheBlaze/AP) — Venezuela’s electoral council says President Hugo Chavez has won re-election, defeating challenger Henrique Capriles.

National Electoral Council president Tibisay Lucena says that with most votes counted, Chavez had about 54 percent of the vote. So far, Lucena says Chavez won more than 7.4 million votes, beating Capriles by more than 1.2 million.

It marks Chavez’s third re-election victory in nearly 14 years in office. The victory gives Chavez another six-year term to cement his legacy and press more forcefully for a transition to socialism in the country with the world’s largest proven oil reserves.

Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez cheer after polling stations closed and before any results were made available in Caracas, Venezuela. (Photo: AP)

Reuters has more:

Jubilant supporters poured onto the streets of Caracas to celebrate the victory of a man who has near-Messianic status among Venezuela’s poor, and there was relief too among leftist allies around the region – from Cuba to Bolivia – who rely on his oil-financed generosity.

“I’m celebrating with a big heart,” said Mary Reina, a 62-year-old Chavez supporter who lives in the hillside slum where the president cast his vote. “Chavez is the hope of the people and of Latin America.”

The mood was grim at Capriles’ campaign headquarters, where opposition supporters broke into tears. The opposition will now have to regroup quickly for state elections in December.

Though Chavez’s battle with cancer has weakened him somewhat, Chavez reportedly appears as energetic as he did when he first assumed power in 1999.

Supporters of opposition candidate Henrique Capriles await results at the campaign headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela. (Photo: AP)

Reuters continues:

While that connection ensured his re-election, the opposition’s big share of the vote reflected a real and growing anger at Chavez’s failure to fix basic problems such as violent crime, potholed roads, electricity blackouts, and entrenched corruption at all levels.

Attention will now shift to Chavez’s plans for a new six-year term at the helm of South America’s biggest oil exporter. The government spent lavishly during the campaign to boost Chavez’s chances, likely ensuring healthy growth of 4 to 5 percent this year but potentially paving the way for an inflation-fueled economic hangover in 2013.

Capriles gave a gracious congratulations to Chavez, but told his supporters not to feel defeated.

“We have planted many seeds across Venezuela and I know that these seeds are going to produce many trees,” he said late Sunday.

Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez celebrate at the Miraflores presidential palace late Sunday Oct. 7, 2012. (Photo: AP)

But hundreds of young red-shirted Chavistas had already taken to the streets on motorcycles, saying they were ready to begin celebrating.

“Let them accept defeat,” Kleiver Gutierrez remarked of the opposition.

When asked why she voted for the incumbent, one woman said it was because of how much he cares.

She explained: “There is corruption, there’s plenty of bureaucracy, but the people have never had a leader who cared about this country…That’s why the people are going to re-elect Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias.”

This is a breaking story. Updates will be added.

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Comments (150)

MaxineH20Sux
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:12pm
Yeah, like we believe he REALLY won. Just like I will believe Barry won if he does….

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- The-Monk
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:26pm
  Won with 54% of the vote…..
  
  I suspect a bad year for the other 46%…..
  
  Report this comment
- honor007
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:45pm
  We need to reach out to these people via Freedomworks. I hope they don’t give up and coninue to keep up the fight.
  
  Report this comment
- Fcbarcelona101
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:47pm
  Bad year? more like bad decade…I am really grateful that I had the opportunity to leave the place and come to a here where freedom and opportunity are part of the core values of the country. Now I guess I’ll wait for a Romney win in november to balance the disappointment of today’s result.
  
  Live free or die!
  
  Report this comment
- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 12:00am
  Chances of a revolution in Venezuela have just gone up exponentially. We can expect mass fraud and intimidation by Team Obama and his extremist groups this election year as well.
  
  Report this comment
- 700P
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 12:07am
  Unless the SEIU and ACORN are successful in similarly rigging our election, the Romney Administration should propose a citizen swap with the Free Obama Phone people
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 12:13am
  @Fcbarcelona101
  “Bad year? more like bad decade…”
  
  I don’t expect many of the 46% to live past a year….
  
  Report this comment
- anOpinion
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 12:21am
  “We will recognize the results, whatever they are,” – Chavez
  
  This was his way of officially letting everyone know that the fix was in and he was going to be “re-elected”
  
  Report this comment
- mercenary4freedom
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 12:21am
  Its time someone busted a cap in chavez’ ass.
  
  Report this comment
- Fcbarcelona101
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 12:26am
  @The-Monk…good point. At the current murder rate it doesn’t look impossible.
  
  @700. Those would fit perfectly in the Chavez supporter mold. Give me and let someone else pay for it.
  
  Report this comment
- nespirina
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 1:20am
  and do not ask the millions there who are starving, they are not dancing….
  
  Report this comment
- kryptonite
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 3:04am
  No outcry from Barack, Hillary or the state media regarding this “brutal dictator.” He’s a “legitimately elected president.” Just ask Geraldo.
  
  I cringe when I hear people say they’re glad we got Barack, because it woke them up. That is utterly insane. Once a commie rises to power, he installs his machine. If he can’t consolidate power in his first term, his machine will get him re-elected so he can obliterate the free foundational system in his second term. If the b*stard becomes terminally ill or dies, the machine spits out another dictator or a look-alike.
  
  Chavez always wins because illegals vote for him. What’s worse, his machine has brainwashed the younger generations. Obama is operating in much the same way. We are a praying nation, so I refuse to give up hope, but even if Obama is removed, we will still have to dismantle his machine; the likes of Soros, Ayers, Van Jones and the MB are privy to our national secrets.
  
  Report this comment
- damon_k
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 5:24am
  Saddam Hussein use to win with 98.9 percent of the vote in every election for 25 years. Read more insights at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
- johnpaulkuchtajr
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 6:02am
  Is it a coincidence that Chavez had ex-Mayor Richard Daley on a consulting contract?
  
  Daley gave Chavez pointers on how to use organizations like ACORN to “properly structure” the votes.
  
  It may be another socialist “elected;”but, it’s just another day at the office for Daley!
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 7:07am
  Hi MONK, I heard this on Bill Cunningham as I was going to bed last night. He was reporting 53%, but also pointed out that not all of the polls had there votes counted yet. I think you are right about that 46% and they very well face 6 years of hardships. From all of the complaints about Chavez that I have heard from people who got out of there, they almost, but not quite as bad, began to sound like some of the Cubans that I meet through the Mariel Boat Lift.
  
  Report this comment
- 100 Million Patriots Standing
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 7:07am
  To avoid a similar result in the US-
  
  more voters are needed for Romney to offset the Chavez-like fraud.
  Break the Obama charm, break the spell !!!
  
  If he’s going to win anyway, why vote?
  
  because this is still the USA and we still have a fighting chance, because if enough of us vote we can offset the anticipated fraud. We don’t roll over!
  
  We find others and help them to the voting booth. And we do this all day long. We need every person that can vote to actually show up to vote in our favor. Influence 100, influence 1000 or 1 million, but influence you must.
  
  Obama must be defeated, break the spell !!! take it viral – find others !
  
  Report this comment
- marybethelizabeth
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 8:30am
  The woman voted quoted in the story says she voted for Hugo Chavez because he cares about the country.
  
  That’s exactly how Mr. Beck describes Mitt “I Built IT” Romney.
  
  Report this comment
REVerse
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:11pm
Error 500 Failed Failed Guru Meditation: XID: 702879503 Varnish cache server

Thanks a lot, Glenn. Talk about being a 1st amendment advocate. Yeah right.

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- The-Monk
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:24pm
  @REVerse,
  
  Huh?
  
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- BV FROM TX
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:25pm
  What does that message mean? I got that on Internet Explorer, but not Firefox.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:34pm
  Guess what… the Internet is not a perfect 24/7/356 connection media source.
  
  It’s more like the Wild Wild West (WWW) than you can imagine.
  
  http://serverfault.com/questions/248041/custom-503-error-page-with-varnish
  
  Report this comment
- capitalismrocks
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 12:10am
  Reverse…
  
  Take off the tin foil hat and relax. I’ve gotten that error from time to time. Very simple, exit this page, go under internet option in your browser and clear your cache. Close and re-open your browser and to back to this page, all fixed… geeez, people are so eager to blame things on others…
  
  What, the next time a light bulb burns out in your house you gonna blame Glenn for that too?
  
  Report this comment
Reeferman
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:10pm
I would also think that there will be massive arrests and murders after tonight.

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Reeferman
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:08pm
I am sure the left commie Hollywood types such as Sean pinhead and Oliver stoned are singing to the dictator. What a #%^*ing joke.

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- CatB
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:31pm
  They should move there … and live like the “locals” not like the government elites .. they would be begging to come back..
  
  Report this comment
- booger71
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:42pm
  I guess the people who live in poverty does not care he is stealing 50% of the state owned oil reserves.
  
  Report this comment
paperpushermj
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:07pm
As is said.
It matters little who Votes.
What matters is who Counts the Votes.

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- RightWingLeftyGolfer
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:19pm
  And if I am not mistaken the one who is credited with this quote is none other than – Joseph Stalin.
  ‘nough said.
  
  Report this comment
REVerse
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:03pm
Sum beach! This could get ugly.

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THXll38
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:03pm
Socialism seems to be the trend these days. Not only in Venezuela, but in the US and other countries around the world. This is indeed a trend that I want nothing to do with.

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- QuincySmith
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:47pm
  THX;
  
  Actually, there are several countries moving right. Look at Canada, and a few others (I really forgot). All is not lost; we are in for a rough times ahead, but the other side looks rather bright (once oblama is removed).
  
  Report this comment
- pakaeboiboi
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 5:38am
  yupppp ….. who woooda thought ….. Canada the New America ……
  
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Grand design
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:01pm
His people counted the votes! Was there ever any doubt? Not a chance!

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- Rational Man
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:34pm
  The same thing happened in Nevada in 2010 for the Senate race.
  We are not so much different than are neighbors in the world.
  And gaining a closer likeness every day…………..
  
  Report this comment
- essgeew
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:54pm
  Maybe we could send our Socialists to them and they could send their Capitalists to us. That way that giant oil reserve of theirs would last about 3 months once the 1% expected the 99% to share in the leftovers after they got theirs first. In Socialism some are more equal then others.
  
  Report this comment
- RepubliCorp
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 12:04am
  and the unions will count our votes
  
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SolitudeBliss
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:01pm
I’m shocked, SHOCKED I tell You !!!

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republic2011
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:00pm
That is jaw dropping. Didn’t see that one coming…

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- 13th Imam
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:06pm
  Surprise. The slum dwellers will continue to be slum dwellers. Much like Obamas slum dwellers
  
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TSUNAMI_22
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 10:58pm
Did any of you actually think he WOULD’T win?

We’re going to most likely see the same thing in November.

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- teebubba
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 10:21am
  Ah….but the die is already cast……medical experts who follow Chavez say that the cancer has not gone away….He has been pumped up with steroids for the past five months to give him extra energy and vitality. But he must stop taking them now and his health will rapidly deteriorate this coming winter.
  
  Report this comment
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 10:57pm
OMG, surprise of the decade! Dictator wins re-election! In other news, Venezuelan police found thousands of dead bodies all over the country in ditches, wearing “vote Capriles” buttons.

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marine249
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 10:56pm
can you belive that?

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cyntro
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 10:55pm
All those surprised, contact me, I have a pretty little bridge I need to sell. What is a surprise is his opponent is still alive.

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- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:02pm
  I was hoping Chavez’s cancer was a bit more aggressive.
  
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- CatB
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:32pm
  Yes .. he “won” this but the devil will be collection him .. the sooner the better.
  
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- Diane TX
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:32pm
  @ Anon
  
  Yeah, me too.
  
  Report this comment
randy
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 10:55pm
Don;t believe it…. Just like I won’t believe it when Obama wins.

SO lets see how the people of Venezuela handle it.
It will be a good barometer for when Obama steals the election here.

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izzy1127
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 10:54pm
Idiots… Looking for some “Divine Intervention” over here………

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fixer
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 10:54pm
That sux

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Ivehadenoughtofthisgovenmentcrap
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 10:54pm
I thought we had the largest oil reserves ……but Obama and the last 3 pres. won’t let us use them. Oh ya….we gave them to China

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- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:00pm
  Just like we gave the licenses for 2 uranium mines in Wyoming to Russia.
  
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- kryptonite
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 3:42am
  @ANONYMOUS
  Excellent point. The Republican Super PACs should bring it up. Maybe Romney should too, when he debates Odumb-bum on foreign policy.
  
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kurtnut
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 10:53pm
Once you get a crook in, good luck getting him out other than with the barrel of a gun. Obama’s never going to lose.

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kcinco
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 10:53pm
Surprise, surprise, surprise!

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kurtnut
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 10:52pm
Like he was ever going top lose?

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oriondma05
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 10:52pm
I smell bullship.. Here comes the bullship detector.

Hopefully we’ll see a true revolution in Venezuela.

Anyone see this happening here in a month? I do.

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Seabass82
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 10:52pm
well damn….

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Magyar
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 10:52pm
I doubt it–but did you really expect any other results?

Could have the same lie happen here!

Heads up–be ready–be prepared…….

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woodyee
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 10:51pm
Yet another reason to dump Gaybama.

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- TelepromoterNChief
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:09pm
  Never needed a reason.
  
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