Meanwhile, back in Venezuela...

With only seven days left till a referendum on his Presidency, and leading in all the polls by a comfortable margin, Hugo Chavez is calling for a final poll push.

Chavez's campaign spokesman, Samuel Moncada, said the goal was to 'obtain twice as many votes as the opposition ... and to win in such overwhelming fashion there would be no more doubts for the opposition, the international community and in particular for the Government of George W. Bush'.

Hmmn. I wonder if Chavez's election officials will be using Diebold electronic voting machines? Maryland, USA, certainly will be using them on November 2nd, even though Diebold admits the machines used in recent elections did not comply with applicable federal qualification standards.

For more on the electronic voting scandal, read Dom Stasi's comments at the bottom of this story.