Brazil’s Lula and Bolsonaro about even ahead of election run-off: Poll

What the report says

Brazil’s presidential race remains extremely close ahead of Sunday’s run-off, according to a CNT/MDA poll published by Al Jazeera on Saturday. The survey showed Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the right-wing candidate and eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, with 46.3 percent support, versus 45 percent for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. That is a narrower edge than in the previous week’s poll, which had Bolsonaro slightly ahead.

The poll was conducted from October 21 to October 23 among 2,032 respondents, with a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points. Al Jazeera reported that the release came one day after the final televised debate before the vote. In that debate, the two candidates argued over Brazil’s economy, infrastructure, regional development and other campaign issues.

According to the report, Bolsonaro criticized Lula over crime, household debt and the cost of living, while Lula rejected the attack and cast Bolsonaro as out of touch with ordinary Brazilians. The election follows the first round on October 4, when Bolsonaro led with 47 percent to Lula’s 45 percent.

Al Jazeera also cited a separate Datafolha survey published Thursday that put the two candidates tied at 50 percent each. Together, the polls suggest the final outcome remains uncertain and that turnout or late movement in voter preference could prove decisive.