Nov. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuelan opposition candidate Manuel Rosales, who is seeking to unseat President Hugo Chavez, kicked off a 26-kilometer (15.6-mile) march that will take him from one end of the capital of Caracas to the other.

Thousands of blue and yellow T-shirt clad supporters joined Rosales and opposition leaders in the working class neighborhood of La Vega in the eastern part of the capital. The march will end in the working class neighborhood of Petare in western Caracas, where Rosales will speak.

At least 1,000 police officers have been mobilized to protect demonstrators, Union Radio reported. Marchers set off in 85-degree heat under sunny skies, accompanied by trucks carrying large speakers blaring music.

Rosales, the former governor of Zulia state, has attacked Chavez for not doing enough to crack down on crime, corruption and unemployment.

The latest poll, released on Nov. 2, showed Chavez's lead over Rosales narrowing to 4 percentage points, according to Caracas-based public opinion research company AKSA Partners.

Chavez, who had the support of 52 percent of those polled compared with 48 percent for Rosales, has seen his lead dwindle from 13 points in September, AKSA President Alfredo Keller said. AKSA's poll is the only one of five released in the past two weeks that shows Rosales gaining on Chavez.

The other polls have shown Chavez maintaining a wide lead.

Chavez, a former army officer, first won election in 1998. He was re-elected in 2000 and survived a recall vote in 2004.

To contact the reporter on this story: Peter Wilson in Caracas at at gparra@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 4, 2006 10:39 EST