Supporters of Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva take part in a campaign event in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. On Sunday, Brazilians head to the voting booth again to choose between da Silva and incumbent Jair Bolsonaro who are facing each other in a runoff vote after neither got enough support to win outright in the Oct. 2 general election. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)A supporter of Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro points finger-gun gestures at a giant inflatable doll depicting former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a prison uniform, during a campaign event in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Bolsonaro and da Silva are facing off in a runoff election set for Oct. 30. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The right-wing Bolsonaro took part in a motorcycle rally Saturday in Belo Horizonte, capital of a state that generally winds up backing the winner — and where he finished second to his leftist competitor in the initial round of voting.
A member of a security detail holds a black bag with bulletproof plates as protection for Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro as he greets supporters during a campaign rally in Praca da Liberdade or Liberty Square, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Bolsonaro is facing former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff election set for Oct. 30. (AP Photo/Yuri Laurindo)
Da Silva supporters, meanwhile rallied in the country’s biggest city, Sao Paulo, where Simone Tebet — a center-right candidate who finished third in the first round — pushed a da Silva victory in the runoff.
A supporter holds a towel emblazoned with an image of Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during a campaign event in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Da Silva is facing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in a runoff election set for Oct. 30. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
“I voted for Tebet on first round and now on second round I’m voting for Lula, against Bolsonaro. I have reservations about (da Silva’s) Worker’s Party, but this weekend I’m putting that aside” said Marcelo Erlich, a 55-year-old executive.
Supporters of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is running for the presidency again, gather for a campaign rally in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. On Sunday, Brazilians head to the voting booth again to choose between da Silva and incumbent Jair Bolsonaro, who are facing each other in a runoff vote after neither got enough support to win outright in the Oct. 2 general election. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
The appearances followed a combative Friday night debate on Globo TV that centered on the economy — an issue that could sway some of the few voters still undecided.
A woman sunbathes in Minhocao Park in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. On Sunday, Brazilians head to the voting booth to choose between the top two presidential candidates who are facing each other in a runoff vote after neither got enough support to win outright in the Oct. 2 general election. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Da Silva, who leads in opinion polls and is trying to reclaim the job he held from 2003 to 2010, once more pledged to boost spending on the poor, though he did not outline a clear plan on how to do that.
Uruguay’s former President Jose Mujica, left, and former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, attend a campaign event in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. On Sunday, Brazilians head to the voting booth again to choose between da Silva and incumbent Jair Bolsonaro, who are facing each other in a runoff vote after neither got enough support to win outright in the Oct. 2 general election. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
He also said that due to inflation, the minimum wage is now worth less than when Bolsonaro was inaugurated.
A full-scale monochrome mural by the Brazilian architect studio Nitsche Arquitetos adorns a “blind wall”, near Minhocao Park in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. On Sunday, Brazilians head to the voting booth to choose between the top two presidential candidates who are facing each other in a runoff vote after neither got enough support to win outright in the Oct. 2 general election. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Bolsonaro quickly promised to lift the minimum wage from $229 a month to $265 next year, though that wasn’t included in the budget proposal he has already sent to Congress. He said the economic downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic had prevented a minimum wage boost, but said the economy was improving.
Brazil’s first lady Michelle Bolsonaro, right, greets a supporter during a campaign event for her husband, President Jair Bolsonaro, who is running for reelection, in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Bolsonaro is facing former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff election set for Oct. 30. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
“We did better than you would have done,” the president said to da Silva. “We are ready to take off. We have one of the world’s best economies now.”
A man sunbathes on a median strip in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. On Sunday, Brazilians head to the voting booth to choose between the top two presidential candidates who are facing each other in a runoff vote after neither got enough support to win outright in the Oct. 2 general election. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Mario Sérgio Lima, a senior Brazil analyst for Medley Global Advisors, said the final debate probably would not sway many voters.
A father and his daughter attend a campaign event for Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, who is running for reelection, in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Bolsonaro is facing former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff election set for Oct. 30. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
“Bolsonaro needed to score a big win. … He didn’t do very well among focus groups of undecided voters nor in online mentions,” Lima said, referring to surveys published online in real-time by pollsters. “Now, it is up to the edited videos that both campaigns will create to energize their supporters.”
A supporter holds an election banner promoting Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, universally known as Lula, during a campaign event in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. On Sunday, Brazilians head to the voting booth again to choose between da Silva and incumbent Jair Bolsonaro who are facing each other in a runoff vote after neither got enough support to win outright in the Oct. 2 general election. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Bolsonaro, who at one point said, “The whole system is against me,” appeared rattled at times.
People cheer while taking part in a caravan in support of incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro, in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Bolsonaro is facing former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff election set for Oct. 30. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
This debate marked a change from their only previous encounter, when da Silva focused on the president’s widely criticized handling of the pandemic that killed more than 680,000 Brazilians and Bolsonaro homed in on corruption investigations that tarnished his opponent and the Workers’ Party as a whole. The two candidates raised these issues again Friday, but dwelled less on them.
A girl carries a flag with an image of Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, who is running for reelection, during a campaign event in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Bolsonaro is facing former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff election set for Oct. 30. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Da Silva repeatedly sought to characterize Bolsonaro’s administration as isolated in the world, noting his scarcity of trips and allies abroad. Bolsonaro retorted that his trip to Russia secured a supply of fertilizer ahead of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, helping Brazilian agribusiness, and he said the Middle East receives him “with open arms.”
Supporters of Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, who is running for reelection, dance during a campaign event in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Bolsonaro is facing former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff election set for Oct. 30. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Bolsonaro closed by thanking God for saving his life after he was stabbed during the 2018 presidential campaign, and invoked his faith in an appeal to religious voters. Earlier in the debate, he threw his hands in the air and raised his arms, calling out his motto: “God! Country! Family!”
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro flashes a thumbs up as he greets supporters during a campaign rally in Praca da Liberdade or Liberty Square, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Bolsonaro is facing former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff election set for Oct. 30. (AP Photo/Yuri Laurindo)
The tensest moment of the debate was when Bolsonaro called da Silva to stand next to him as he answered a question. “Stay here, Luiz,” the president said.
A woman waves a banner with an image of Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro during a campaign event in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Bolsonaro is facing former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff election set for Oct. 30. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
The former president shot back, “I don’t want to be anywhere near you,” then turned his back.
A supporter of Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, who is running for reelection, attends a campaign event in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Bolsonaro is facing former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff election set for Oct. 30. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
In a post-debate interview with TV Globo, Bolsonaro indicated that he will respect results of the vote. Many analysts have expressed concern he has laid the groundwork to challenge results if they are unfavorable, much like former U.S. President Donald Trump.
A member of a security detail holds a black bag with bulletproof plates as protection for Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro as he greets supporters during a campaign rally in Praca da Liberdade or Liberty Square, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Bolsonaro is facing former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff election set for Oct. 30. (AP Photo/Yuri Laurindo)
“There’s no doubt: Whoever has more votes takes it,” Bolsonaro said. “That is what a democracy is.”
