Venezuela Election 2013: Maduro Wins By Less Than 2 Percent, Capriles Demands Recount

Vice President Nicolas Maduro has won the presidential election in Venezuela, by a margin of 300,000 votes -- less than 2 percent of the total. His opponent, moderate Henrique Capriles, is demanding a recount.

Maduro won 50.7 percent of the vote, while Capriles captured 49.1 percent, in an election with over 78 percent turnout.

A loss this close is an impressive achievement for the opposition, led by Capriles, the 40-year-old governor of the Venezuelan state of Miranda. Capriles ran against Hugo Chavez, the bombastic four-time president of Venezuela, in last year's election.

Capriles lost that election by nearly 11 points, still the smallest margin of victory Chavex ever received. After Chavez's death from cancer last month, his vice president and chosen successor Maduro vowed to continue his legacy.

In a short and contentious campaign, Maduro and Capriles wrestled for public support. Maduro had the sympathy vote so soon after the beloved leader's death, and loyalty to Chavez is still high.

But many Venezuelans are growing tired of the rising violence and inflation, and some wonder if the government's spending programs will survive the eventual end of the oil boom. Capriles presents a more moderate alternative to the hardline socialist policies of Maduro and Chavez, though by American standards even Capriles would be considered far left wing.

Capriles has accused Maduro's campaign of rigging the vote, and the opposition is demanding a careful recount.

"The country's peace, Venezuela's future, hinges on whether we can fully know the truth," Capriles said. "I will be waiting. You should decide what door you want to open. We hope that you give us and the country the opportunity to know the truth."

"I have won by nearly 300,000 votes. It is the decision of the people. Let them open 100% of the ballot boxes. We are not afraid," Maduro said, but he is still moving to have the results certified without the recount.

The Obama White House supports the recount. "The result as reported is extremely close," White House spokesman Jay Carney said. "The opposition candidate and at least one member of the electoral council have called for an audit, which, in our view, seems like an important and prudent step to take."

While some Latin American leaders have already congratulated Maduro, Organization of American States Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza said he also supports a recount.

If neither candidate backs down from their position, the peaceful handover of power could turn violent.