He grew up in Tachira, a devoutly Catholic Andean state, and was destined for the priesthood.

ECONOMIST: Venezuela

The northwestern Venezuelan states of Tachira, Merida, Barinas and Apure reportedly were affected by an unplanned electricity outage on April 12, when failures were reported in transmission lines at several electric substations.

FORBES: Venezuela's Dodgy Energy Data

But despite the odds against his opponent, Mr Chavez might do well to remember that presidents born in the state of Tachira have governed Venezuela for 62 of the past 100 years.

ECONOMIST: Venezuela