Venezuela’s Chavez promises “knockout” in presidential race

PanARMENIAN.Net - Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez sang, danced and gave a marathon speech at the launch of his re-election bid, offering a preview of a campaign in which he is likely to push his limits trying to show Venezuelans he is emerging from cancer's shadow, the Associated Press reported.

Chavez appeared tired, bloated and pale when he walked into the National Electoral Council to register his candidacy Monday, June 11. But later he exuded energy while singing along with a band playing a folk tune, and he seemed in his element as he delivered a fiery speech that lasted nearly three hours.

"We're just warming up our engines," Chavez said.

Then he took a jab at his rival, saying opposition candidate Henrique Capriles would "run out of gasoline."

The 57-year-old president has limited his recent public appearances after undergoing cancer treatment in Cuba, and he arrived at the elections office riding atop a truck.

Chavez said that despite his yearlong battle with cancer, he's ready to campaign and win by a "knockout" in the Oct. 7 election.

"We came from miracle to miracle, and I'm sure that with God's help we'll continue living and we'll continue triumphing," he said.

Chavez returned from Cuba on May 11 after what he said was a difficult round of radiation therapy. He has not disclosed details about his illness, including the type of cancer or the precise location of the two tumors that were surgically removed from his pelvic region during the past year.

"It was a difficult year," Chavez told the cheering crowd, which filled a plaza outside the elections office.