Brazil Candidates Make Final Runoff Appeals

Summary

Updated Oct 24, 7:36pm ET

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro made their final appeals before Brazil’s presidential runoff. A Datafolha poll put the incumbent and the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro tied at 50% each among valid votes. Flávio Bolsonaro led the first round with about 47% to Lula’s about 45%, sending the race to a runoff. The vote will shape Latin America’s largest country, including its relationship with the United States. In Friday’s final debate, Lula defended wage increases and his hunger record, while Bolsonaro blamed Lula’s government for high prices. Lula’s Copacabana rally drew about 1.1 million people. The runoff takes place Sunday.

Left and right

From the left

Left-leaning outlets framed the race as a high-stakes clash over living costs, competence and the far right’s possible return. HuffPost led on the final debate as a fight over prices and personal attacks. Al Jazeera cast the vote as a test of left-wing rule during a regional move right. The Guardian lingered on Lula supporters’ grassroots push for a comeback.

From the right

Only one right-leaning outlet we track covered this: ZeroHedge, under the headline “Bolsonaro, Lula Clash In Fiery Final Debate As Brazil's Runoff Goes Down To The Wire”.