Brazil's president announces re-election bid for second four-year term

Brazil's president announces re-election bid for second four-year term

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday announced his re-election bid, choosing the national convention of the Workers Party he helped found decades ago to launch his campaign.

The former union boss, a leftist who turned centrist after winning the presidency in a 2002 landslide, enters the race with his popularity rebounding after a corruption scandal forced top aides to resign and tarnished the image of the party.

Polls suggest Silva, 60, is in striking distance of winning in the first round of the election on Oct. 1. If no candidate gets 50 percent, the top two go to a runoff Oct. 29, reports AP.

O.Ch.