Venezuela's ruling party courts youth vote with celebrity candidates

Along with a cadre of athletes, hip-hop artists and TV personalities, Casanova is one of several minor celebrities, most of them political novices, competing Sunday in primaries to select candidates for the ruling socialist party for December's legislative elections. Analysts say President Nicolas Maduro is counting on the fresh faces to court young, uncommitted voters at a time when support for his socialist administration is being eroded by widespread shortages and triple-digit inflation. His United Socialist Party, or PSUV, has mandated that half of its candidates be under the age of 30 to match the demographics of Venezuela's 19 million voter. More…