São Paulo becomes runoff battleground: Lula's mass rally on Paulista Avenue as Bolsonaro courts mayors

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Lula headlined a massive rally on São Paulo's Avenida Paulista, where a sea of supporters wore the red of his Workers' Party. Seeking a fourth term, Lula made public safety the centerpiece of his runoff pitch, promising that if re-elected he would overhaul the national approach to crime with direct federal government involvement: "For the working people, for the community, for the territory, protection; for criminals, prison." From atop a sound truck he urged young voters to turn out and appealed to citizens over 70, for whom voting is optional.

Lula also made workers' time off a campaign plank: the Senate is due to vote Wednesday on legislation, approved by the lower house in May, to raise weekly paid days off from one to two and cut the maximum working week from 44 to 40 hours. Lula challenged his rival to take a stand: "Bolsonaro has to say whether he is in favor of workers resting more or continuing to work longer hours." Bolsonaro labeled the proposal "opportunistic."

Bolsonaro, meanwhile, spent Sunday consolidating political ground in São Paulo state. He met with re-elected Governor Tarcísio de Freitas and held talks with mayors and city councillors, promising that municipalities would receive more federal funding to combat crime if he is elected: "I want to be very close to each one of you, mayors. This is how we are going to build a truly better Brazil, because federal resources will reach the ground level."