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Lula favourite to win Brazil poll Brazil voters choose president
(about 5 hours later)
Brazilians go to the polls on Sunday to elect a president, as the two final candidates go head-to-head. Voting in under way in Brazil's presidential run-off.
This run-off round of voting pits the incumbent, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, against Geraldo Alckmin, the former governor of Sao Paulo. The second round pits the incumbent, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva - known as "Lula" - against Geraldo Alckmin, a former governor of Sao Paulo.
Both candidates describe themselves as centre left, and their policies are broadly similar. Both candidates describe themselves as centre left. Lula has strong support among the poor, while Mr Alckmin is regarded as more pro-business.
Lula narrowly missed out on an outright win in the first round, and opinion polls suggest he is a clear favourite. Lula narrowly failed to win outright in the first round, and opinion polls suggest he is a clear favourite.
Published just 12 hours before the start of voting, Saturday night's final opinion polls suggest the president will be re-elected. Brazil's main polling organisations both predict that Lula will win about 60% of votes against 40% for Mr Alckmin.
The two main polling organisations both predict that Lula will win 61% of valid votes against 39% for Mr Alckmin.
The corruption issueThe corruption issue
Many here had expected Lula to win outright in the first round of voting four weeks ago, but he fell narrowly short of victory after a financial and dirty tricks scandal engulfed his governing Workers' Party. Many people in the country had expected Lula to win outright in the first round four weeks ago - but he fell short of victory after a financial and dirty tricks scandal engulfed his governing Workers' Party.
In this second phase of campaigning, the corruption issue has faded in the absence of fresh revelations and Lula has consolidated his core support by emphasising his achievements in reducing poverty. The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Sao Paulo says the corruption issue has now faded in the absence of fresh revelations, and Lula has consolidated his core support by emphasising his achievements in reducing poverty.
He has also tried to scare voters away from Mr Alckmin by suggesting his rival would sell off Brazil's remaining state companies. He has also suggested Mr Alckmin would sell off Brazil's remaining state companies.
Privatisation is generally viewed with suspicion here and despite repeated denials by the challenger, the accusation may have cost him votes. Privatisation is generally viewed with suspicion in Brazil.
Despite repeated denials by the challenger, the accusation may have cost him votes, our correspondent adds.