It is not as if any candidate that runs against Hugo Chavez stands a chance of winning; the votes for Venezuela's 2012 election have already been tallied and dictator Hugo Chavez is the winner. Nevertheless, the Chavez regime, just like the Castro regime, feels threatened by any opponent, and they will do whatever is necessary to eliminate them:

Venezuela blocks Chavez rival's presidential bid

(Reuters) - Venezuela's Supreme Court effectively blocked high-profile opposition challenger Leopoldo Lopez on Monday from running against President Hugo Chavez in a 2012 vote, rejecting an international court ruling that called the government's disqualification of Lopez unjustified.