(03/04/10) -

Lulas Anointed Candidate Gains in Brazil

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The chief of staff of Brazil’s government and presidential candidate for the ruling Worker’s Party (PT) has gained momentum but remains in second place, according to a poll by Ibope. 25 per cent of respondents would vote for Dilma Rousseff in this year’s election, up eight points since November.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The chief of staff of Brazil’s government and presidential candidate for the ruling Worker’s Party (PT) has gained momentum but remains in second place, according to a poll by Ibope. 25 per cent of respondents would vote for Dilma Rousseff in this year’s election, up eight points since November.

Sao Paulo governor Jose Serra of the conservative Brazilian Party of Social Democracy (PSDB) continues to lead with 36 per cent. Support is lower for Ciro Gomes of the Socialist People’s Party (PSB), and Marina Silva of the Green Party (PV).

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva—a member of the PT—won the October 2002 presidential election with 61 per cent of the vote in a run-off against Serra. In October 2006, he earned a new four-year term, defeating PSDB candidate Geraldo Alckmin with 60.8 per cent of the vote in the second round.

Lula has publicly endorsed Rousseff as his preferred successor. On Feb. 20, the PT officially selected Rousseff as the party’s presidential candidate. Accepting her nomination, the economist declared: "I humbly receive this mission that you are giving to me. (…) There will be no going backwards, no adventures. But we could advance much more and much more quickly."

Lula is ineligible for a third term in office. The first round of Brazil’s next presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 3.

Polling Data

Which of these candidates would you vote for in the next presidential election?

Source: Ibope
Methodology: Interviews with 2,002 Brazilian adults, conducted from Feb. 6 to Feb. 9, 2010. Margin of error is 2.2 per cent.