President Lula, challenger Flavio Bolsonaro even in Brazil election second-round, poll shows

• Datafolha poll shows Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro statistically tied in a potential runoff for the October elections.
• Flavio Bolsonaro's support has increased, surpassing Lula numerically for the first time in a Datafolha poll.
• Lula maintains the lead in spontaneous mentions, but is statistically tied with Bolsonaro when candidates are shown.

SAO PAULO - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro have remained statistically tied in a potential runoff in the October general elections, a Datafolha poll showed on April 11, with the lawmaker rising within the survey’s error margin.

Mr Bolsonaro - son of former president Jair Bolsonaro - would receive 46 per cent of the votes in a runoff, compared with 45 per cent for Mr Lula, according to Datafolha.

Mr Lula had 46 per cent compared to 43 per cent for Mr Flavio Bolsonaro in early March.

It was the first time the younger Bolsonaro surpassed Mr Lula numerically in a Datafolha poll, but the changes remained within the survey’s margin of error of two percentage points in either direction, meaning both were still statistically tied.

Mr Lula, who will seek a fourth non-consecutive term, has seen his advantage evaporate this year, with Mr Bolsonaro rising in polls after gaining the public support in December from his father, who is under house arrest for plotting a coup.

In the first round, Mr Lula, 80, maintains the lead in the scenario polled through spontaneous mentions. But he has lost the lead when the respondents are shown the candidates, with the president now statistically tied with Mr Bolsonaro, according to the survey.

Datafolha interviewed 2,004 voters from April 7 to April 9 in 137 municipalities. REUTERS