MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazilian government presidential candidate leads in vote intention with 38%

Publicity spots next to Lula da Silva’s 80% support have been crucial for Dilma Rousseff

Brazilian incumbent presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff leads in vote intention with 38% compared to 35% for her main opponent Jose Serra, according to the latest Vox Populi public opinion polls releases published in the Sunday press.

Rousseff from President Lula da Silva’s Workers Party, (PT), has advanced seven percentage points while Serra from the Social Democrats and the main opposition force, was also up but just one percentage point compared to the previous poll from April 3.

It is the first time according to Vox Populi that Ms. Rousseff, Lula da Silva’s former Energy minister and cabinet chief, is ahead of Serra who was governor of Sao Paulo, mayor of the mega-polis of Sao Paulo and minister with former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso (1995/2002).

In third position comes Marina Silva from the Green Party. Ms Silva was Environmental minister with President Lula da Silva but left the PT disenchanted with government policies in the Amazon.

Vox Populi interviewed 2.000 people between May 8 and 13 and coincided with several campaign spots where Ms Rousseff appeared next to President Lula da Silva who has a record 80% public opinion support.

“Undoubtedly the proximity to President Lula da Silva benefits the presidential aspirations of Ms Rousseff”, wrote Fernando Rodrigues, political analyst from Folha de Sao Paulo.

Brazilian presidential elections are scheduled for October 3 when a third of the Senate and the whole Lower House will be renewed plus several governorships.