Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro tie at 50 percent as Datafolha poll erases candidate's earlier lead

The Brazilian presidential race is currently deadlocked at 50 percent, according to a Datafolha institute survey released on Thursday. This result erases the four-point lead that Flavio Bolsonaro held in polls published two weeks prior. The new data indicates that the race has tightened considerably as the vote approaches.

The survey findings follow a final debate between the two candidates on Friday. The event took place in Rio de Janeiro and was broadcast on TV Globo. It was the last of three debates in the campaign cycle. The atmosphere was more diplomatic than the first meeting between the two on Sunday, though personal attacks still occurred.

The candidates focused their exchanges on policy, specifically the economy, infrastructure, and regional development. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticized his opponent's plan to cut public spending. He compared Bolsonaro's approach to the methods used by Argentina's libertarian president, Javier Milei. Bolsonaro countered by arguing that the incumbent is leaving the country bankrupt.

"I'll have the same job here [as Milei in Argentina] because you're leaving the country bankrupt," Bolsonaro stated. He also accused Lula of allowing organized crime to expand and failing to address the high cost of living. Lula, who is Brazil's first working-class president, responded by questioning the senator's experience and connection to everyday life.

"He doesn't know what hunger is," Lula said of his rival. Bolsonaro asked, "Why are things so expensive?" Lula also declared, "He doesn't know Brazil." Bolsonaro maintained that he is a capable candidate who stands for change. The debate featured three heated exchanges, including a dispute over the nickname "Nine Fingers," which refers to an accident Lula suffered as a metalworker.

The race began with a first round of voting on October 4. Bolsonaro finished first in that round, taking 47 percent of the vote to Lula's 45 percent. Neither candidate secured an absolute majority, which triggered a runoff. The final vote is scheduled for Sunday. Both candidates are expected to join supporters in the streets of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo for their final campaign push before the election.

The Datafolha survey marks a shift from the polling data released two weeks ago. In those earlier polls, Bolsonaro held a four-point advantage. The current 50 percent tie suggests that undecided voters or voters who changed their minds have balanced the field. The final debate and the latest polling numbers provide the clearest picture of the current state of the race.