Sean Penn campaigns for reelection of Venezuelan President Chavez

American actor Sean Penn has visited Venezuela to show his support of incumbent President Hugo Chavez, who he joined at an election rally.

According to Reuters and RT Mr. Chavez thanked Mr. Penn, introducing Penn to a big crowd in the country's central city of Valencia he stated "thank you very much for visiting us again, dear friend," and stated that "we're all Americans, from the north, the center, the south. Long live the American continent!" Mr. Penn waved from the stage and fist-bumped and hugged the Venezuelan president, but did not go on to address the crowd. Penn is a friend of the Venezuelan president, he asked Mr. Chavez last year to talk to Tehran on behalf of two American hikers who were arrested in Iran. Mr. Chavez is looking to win another six year long term in the country's October presidential elections, his primary rival is a former state governor named Henrique Capriles.