I haven’t written much about the candidates for the simple reason that there are too many in my opinion and I don’t want to waste useless words on some of them. In the end I think there will only be two. But there seems to be something programmed in the DNA of some Venezuelan men that makes them want to run, even when they have been out of view for years and have become irrelevant politically.
Thus, kudos to Andres Velazquez and Causa R for announcing that they will back Henrique Capriles Radonski. Clearly, Velazquez was the clear leader of Causa R, but his day in the sun is past and his health limits his ambitions. He had a good run in 1993, but has been unable to win an election since, despite trying. He can bring a lot to the Capriles camp, few people know Guayana and the union movement like Velazquez. Velazquez must be impressed with Capriles’ ideas on the union movement to back him.
There is an element of surprise in the announcement, I would have thought a left-wing group like Causa R had more affinity with Pablo Perez and UNT, but go figure, on the same day Gerardo Blyde became Pablo Perez’ campaign manager.
With the announcement I now know two Venezuelan men not running (Guess the other one!), let’s hope other would-be candidates take the hint, that if Velazquez is not running, they should not do it either…
The Devil's Excrement 
September 14, 2011 at 7:56 am
I stand by my words and I think this post proves it, a week ago, Velazquez had to be included in any list, he is no longer a candidate. The situation is still very fluid, AD has yet to endorse someone, in polls three candidates have 80% of the vote, it will be silly to write about the twelve or so candidates.
September 14, 2011 at 12:55 am
“I haven’t written much about the candidates for the simple reason that there are too many in my opinion and I don’t want to waste useless words on some of them. In the end I think there will only be two.”
Miguel–come on. Useless words?
You should be devoting 75% of the space here to opposition candidates, and not make judgments yet on who you think will be the “final two.”
Elections are not won by just trashing the incumbents, but by writing about their challengers and giving them the media coverage they deserve.
September 13, 2011 at 4:41 pm
¡Ahí viene María! … ¿donde? …. ¡Detrás de la ambulancia!
September 13, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Causa Radonski, baby!
September 13, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Ha! good one 🙂
September 13, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Pablo Perez has no chance whatsoever, Gerardo Blyde just made a bet on the wrong horse. Go Capriles goooooo
September 13, 2011 at 2:05 pm
hablando de adecos:
http://www.eluniversal.com/2011/09/13/ledezma-plantea-fusion-de-organizaciones-socialdemocratas.shtml
September 13, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Good for him. I am not so surprised he went for Capriles. Pérez is just AD in blue and that was one of the things Velázquez was fighting against for so many years and almost died because of the AD thugs.
I also hope Velázquez gets a good position then. It would balance things up.
September 13, 2011 at 12:51 pm
If HCR wins, I hope he offers Andrés Velásquez a high powered cabinet job and tells the Cecilia Sosas and OAPs of this world to take a hike. THAT would set a useful precedent: the way to re-float a sagging career is to make a risky, strategic endorsement, not a doomed run.
September 13, 2011 at 12:49 pm
Good on him!