Hugo Chavez Near Death Struggles For Life, Venezuelans Hopeful in Leader's Recovery

As news of President Hugo Chavez fight of his life spreads, so does the hope of Venezuelans that believe in his survival.

The vice president shared Thursday that a recent poll revealed that nearly three in five Venezuelans believe their president will return to power.

Nicolas Maduro stated on television on Tuesday that Chavez "is battling there for his health, for his life, and we're accompanying him."

Chavez battling cancer hasn't spoken publicly since his December 11 surgery in Cuba. The government reportedly shared that he has been breathing only with the help of a tracheal tube after surviving a serious respiratory infection.

The report of rising hope is contrary to the increasing doubt as some Venezuelans have questioned whether the socialist president is at a military hospital in Caracas at all, whether he even returned from Cuba or whether he is in fact still alive. Many are said that they are no long sure what to believe.

"The president's prolonged absence and his critical situation have not been converted into massive pessimism about his return," respected pollster Luis Vicente Leon tweeted Thursday.

He said nearly 58 percent of Venezuelans believe Chavez will recover while about 30 percent believe he will not return to power and 12.5 percent say they don't know what will happen. One percent believe Chavez was never sick.

Chavez has gone through surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments since June 2011, when he first announced his unspecified cancer diagnosis in the pelvic area.

The government released four photographs on February 15 of Chavez smiling while lying in a bed in Cuba with his two daughters beside him.

"The government has sent permanent messages that President Chavez will return, that he meets with the vice president for five hours," Leon noted.