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 CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - His portraits hang in homes across Venezuela. Loyal "Chavistas" cheer him on during folksy speeches that last up to seven hours and end up in print for sale on street corners. Admirers often say he embodies the spirit of Simon Bolivar, South America's 19th century independence hero.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has become so firmly enshrined in the national psyche, so adored by followers who see him as their savior, that his personality has become the predominant issue of his re-election campaign. Love him or hate him, Venezuelans agree that his crusading, magnetic persona is at the heart of what Chavez calls his socialist revolution.
"He gives the impression that he truly cares for the poor, that he would do anything to help us," says Anita Lopez, 32, a single mother who carries a photograph of "El Comandante" in her wallet.
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