<p>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.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Chavez appeared tired, bloated and pale when he walked into the National Electoral Council to register his candidacy on Monday. 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.<br /><br />Then he took a jab at his rival, saying opposition candidate Henrique Capriles would “run out of gasoline.”<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Capriles, in contrast, flaunted his youthful energy on Sunday by leading a huge crowd of supporters to the same elections office, working up a sweat as he walked and jogged 10 km across the city.<br />Chavez said that despite his battle with cancer, he’s ready to campaign and win by a “knockout” in the October 7 election.</p>
<p>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.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Chavez appeared tired, bloated and pale when he walked into the National Electoral Council to register his candidacy on Monday. 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.<br /><br />Then he took a jab at his rival, saying opposition candidate Henrique Capriles would “run out of gasoline.”<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Capriles, in contrast, flaunted his youthful energy on Sunday by leading a huge crowd of supporters to the same elections office, working up a sweat as he walked and jogged 10 km across the city.<br />Chavez said that despite his battle with cancer, he’s ready to campaign and win by a “knockout” in the October 7 election.</p>