Venezuela's Maduro may look for fresh start with US

Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro is sure to look for ways to strike a fresh start to shattered relations with the United States -- no matter who wins the White House.

If the past is any indication, it'll be a tough battle.

Neither President Donald Trump nor rival Joe Biden recognize Nicolás Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate president. However, the socialist leader has repeated his desire to restart talks.

"We are going to have a single policy -- dialogue, dialogue and dialogue -- with whoever wins in the United States," Maduro said.

Venezuela's socialist governments has had strained relations with the past five U.S. presidents.

In a stated campaign to end Maduro's presidency, Trump closed the U.S. embassy in Caracas and threw his support behind Maduro's rival, Juan Guaidó, head of Venezuela's congress.

The Trump administration imposed broad financial sanctions and justice officials indicted him on narcoterrorism with a $15 million bounty for his arrest.

Luis Vicente León, president of the Caracas-based polling firm Datanalisis, said, however, that Maduro will take advantage of the election.

Having failed to oust Maduro in nearly two years, Trump may be open to a new strategy if he gets a second term, such as accepting his offer to talk, León said.

He added that Biden, if he wins, could be open to approving exemptions to stiff U.S. sanctions in exchange for Maduro allowing in humanitarian assistance.

"For Maduro, this could create an opportunity," León said, saying it's a matter of nuances rather than profound changes.

Locals had mixed reactions on what a Trump or Biden government would mean for Venezuela.

For José Soto, a vendor, he's hoping a Biden win will mean an end to the blockage, but for university student Sineid Garcia, a Trump victory could bring "a very good change in the country."