Lula and Bolsonaro campaign in São Paulo ahead of presidential runoff

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro mobilized supporters in São Paulo on Oct. 11 ahead of the Oct. 25 presidential runoff.

Bolsonaro met reelected São Paulo state Governor Tarcisio de Freitas, mayors and municipal councilors. He promised to direct more federal funding to municipalities to combat crime if he wins the presidency.

Lula addressed a rally on Avenida Paulista. Before taking the stage, he said he wanted to strengthen the federal government's role in public safety and overhaul the approach to fighting crime.

The president urged young voters to turn out and also appealed to older citizens, for whom voting becomes optional after age 70. According to Reuters, Bolsonaro took about 47% of the vote in the Oct. 4 first round, finishing roughly two percentage points ahead of Lula.