"
. . . He will just steal the election, what does he have to worry about? . . ."
I once again refer to the article from
El Universal (Caracas) I translated and posted
here. The reporting makes clear that Chavez is working hard to mobilize the officials of the Venezuelan state at all levels through extensive pressure to support his reelection.
My analysis of all of that is, given the overt resort to pressure Chavez is displaying, that he
cannot simply do as he chooses at this point in time. There are powerful forces arraigned against him now. Everyone in Venezuela understands this. That is why Chavez is speaking in such threatening tones to officials of the Venezuelan state. He has to check their power before he moves and right now, I don't think he's being listened to, based upon what I'm seeing.
I think the entire rest of the Venezuelan election campaign will now be centered upon the determination of whether Chavez is able to intimidate the officials of the Venezuelan state into guaranteeing his election or not. Right now, he hasn't done it. But I also think he's just getting started.
Kitten, I put the wrong web address in the link to my post to you just a moment ago. It's
post #16 I was referring to in my earlier comments. My bad, sorry.