San Francisco Frontiers - Lula, Bolsonaro trade scandal fire in final scramble for votes

A campaign dominated by scandals and insults has done little to ease the deep political polarization in Latin America's biggest economy, one of the last major leftist bastions in the region.

The tight race pits Lula, 80, against the son of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, a close ally of Donald Trump who has backed a wave of victorious right-wing candidates in Latin America.

Trump said Thursday he was watching Brazil's election "very closely."

Opinion polls predict the vote will go to a runoff on October 25, with Lula and Flavio in a dead heat.

"The race is tied but not at a standstill: the final week will determine where the voters who can still be swayed will go," Felipe Nunes, director of the Quaest polling institute, told AFP.

Many of the nation's 160 million registered voters are disenchanted with their options and were deprived of a debate between the leading candidates when both declined to attend a televised program on Thursday evening.

Marcelo Vilanova, 32, a fish market manager in the southeastern city of Juiz de Fora, said he was voting for Lula as the "lesser of two evils."

"He did good things for me, for my family," he said, referring to Lula's social welfare programs. "I have criticisms of him too."

Lucas Sales, 38, a cell phone shop owner in the city, is voting for Flavio Bolsonaro even if "he himself isn't the best option," citing his promise to be tough on crime, a key concern for many Brazilians in this election.

- A saintly spat and gynecological gaffe -

The race for undecided voters has had both sides on alert for anything they can twist to their advantage.

In recent days, Brazil's beloved patron saint, Our Lady of Aparecida, depicted as a Black Madonna, became the focus as rumours erupted that Flavio Bolsonaro planned to strip her of her post if elected.

Flavio issued fierce denials as Lula took to the campaign trail clutching a statue of the saint, declaring that "messing" with her was "unacceptable."

The electoral court ordered Thursday that posts with the "untrue" claims be taken down.

Lula tends to have more support among Catholics while Bolsonaro has the backing of a booming Evangelical population.

Next, Flavio Bolsonaro and his supporters pounced when Lula said that men were "cowards" when it comes to getting their prostates examined, while "women learn to receive a touch from a young age," referring to gynecological exams.

Clips of his comment circulated widely on social media as if it were an allusion to abuse, and Flavio Bolsonaro accused Lula of being "sexist."

"It's really turned into a circus...my vote won't go to any of them," said Gisele Sousa, 45, a clothing shop employee.

In another jab during a podcast Thursday, Lula said he was sure he would win in the first round, over a rival he said was not even qualified "to serve as a building manager."

- Lula's political clout -

Veteran leftist Lula is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, boasting he is fitter than ever despite his advanced age.

The former union leader has overseen a drop in inflation and unemployment while massively curbing deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.

Nevertheless, voters complain about a high cost of living and are fed up with violence and crime.

Lula unveiled a flurry of measures in the run-up to the election to win over voters, increasing social welfare payments and banning sports betting that has ensnared many in gambling addiction.

"Only Lula has the political clout and credibility to carry out reforms," Edinho Silva, president of Lula's Workers' Party, told AFP.

Lula made Brazilian sovereignty a central plank of his campaign, warning Trump not to "meddle" in his country's elections.

Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, has remained a tough foe for Lula, even as it emerged he was under investigation for corruption over the financing of the biopic "Dark Horse" about his father.

He was forced during the campaign to admit he had asked jailed banker Daniel Vorcaro, at the heart of one of Brazil's largest financial fraud cases, to bankroll the film.

Bolsonaro was also confident of a first-round win, vowing that Lula would be "ousted from the presidency" on Sunday.

K.Torres--SFF