Hugo Chavez holds final pre-election rally

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CARACAS, Venezuela, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told supporters on the final day of campaigning before Sunday's election "we will not lose the fatherland."

Chavez, at a huge campaign rally, also led a chorus of the national anthem, played air guitar to a campaign theme song and shared the stage with his family, Britain's Guardian reported Friday.

"We are playing for life. In our hands we will not lose the fatherland, we will not lose the future of the fatherland," Chavez said.

He had been written off as possibly not surviving until Election Day because he was diagnosed and treated for cancer earlier this year. He has undergone cancer treatment three times in Cuba. The type of cancer wasn't revealed.

Chavez, 57, has been president since February 1999. He is seeking another six-year term.

His challenger, Henrique Capriles, remained significantly behind Chavez in most polls but had narrowed the margin, The Guardian said.

If he wins another term, as expected, aides say Chavez would focus more on security and economic issues.