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By Andrew Cawthorne CARACAS (Reuters) - President Nicolas Maduro has promised to step up a pre-election "economic offensive" that has resulted in inspections of hundreds of Venezuelan businesses for price gouging and caused crowds to flock to shops to take advantage of state-ordered discounts. The move - Maduro's boldest since taking office in April - is reminiscent of the dramatic governing style of his predecessor, Hugo Chavez, who nationalized large swathes of the OPEC member's economy during his 14-year socialist rule. The inspections have shaken Venezuela three weeks before local elections that his enemies are casting as a referendum on the 50-year-old former bus driver.More...