Chavez says Venezuela opposition vote win stinks

The president lost despite activating an oil-financed, state-backed get-out-the-vote machine.

Chavez is popular for a folksy style and often uses spicy language, particularly against the opposition and Washington.

He labels his rivals "lackeys of the empire" and U.S. President George W. Bush the "devil" and a "donkey." He once called Bush an "asshole."

Bush applauded Venezuelans for voting against "one-man rule," but Chavez dismissed Bush's cheer as the U.S. leader's false hope.

Giggling, Chavez stopped just short of using an expletive to describe Bush's reaction. He said it would not have been right to use such language, given that the news conference was being televised, including by U.S. network CNN.

(For more on Venezuela's referendum, click here)

(Reporting by Saul Hudson; Editing by Brian Ellsworth and Vicki Allen)