Pindamonhangaba, Brazil – Brazilians are angry about a corruption scandal circling President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, but polls suggest they have doubts about handing the job to the notoriously bland alternative, former Sao Paulo Gov. Geraldo Alckmin.
Surveys give da Silva a strong lead heading into Sunday’s presidential runoff election.
Still, he had been expected to easily win the initial ballot Oct. 1, when a surprisingly strong showing by Alckmin denied the incumbent a majority of the votes and forced a runoff.
After the first round, when da Silva won 49 percent and Alckmin had 42 percent in a field of six candidates, many analysts gave the challenger an even chance of victory in the runoff. But da Silva’s popularity has rebounded despite Alckmin’s continued hammering at the corruption issue, which commentators blamed for the president’s stumble.
Alckmin, 53, is a hardworking conservative widely admired for his effectiveness as governor of Brazil’s wealthiest and most populous state, yet he also is seen as robotic and self-righteous.
Analysts say Alckmin’s stilted public persona works against him.
“He is a very stiff person who talks down to the common man, and Brazilians don’t like that,” said David Fleischer, a political scientist at the University of Brasilia.
