Photo journal: Life in a Caracas barrio

The woman who appears in opposition candidate Manuel Rosales’s campaign promoting his main social proposal – the debit card known as "Mi Negra" – is a local resident.

But this is Chavez heartland and, according to a mock vote conducted locally, Mr Rosales would receive about 5% of the ballots here.

However, the opposition candidate's supporters claim there is growing discontent with the government and this will benefit Mr Rosales.