Ex-Venezuelan diplomat 'never' considered being president but will launch campaign this month

A few weeks ago, Edmundo González Urrutia was just another grandfather visiting his daughter and grandchildren, who live abroad, enjoying two months of family time. That leisurely pace will have to wait because González is now getting ready for a campaign to become Venezuela’s next president. González became the candidate of the Unitary Platform coalition last month after former lawmaker Maria Corina Machado, and her handpicked alternative were banned from registering. González told The Associated Press Thursday he plans to kick off his campaign later this month and said Machado and other opposition leaders will continue to host events around the country.