Dilma Rousseff and Marina Silva tied, says pollster

A poll on vote intentions released on Wednesday (Sep 3) by Datafolha shows current President Dilma Rousseff (of the Workers' Party, “PT”) with 35% of voter support, followed by Marina Silva (of the Socialist Party, “PSB”) with 34%, and Aécio Neves (Social Democracy Party, “PSDB”) with 14% in the run for the office of President of the Republic of Brazil.

The figures forecast a tie between Dilma Rousseff and Marina Silva in the first round. In the previous survey conducted by the same pollster, released on August 29, Rousseff was reported to have 34% of voting intentions, Silva 34%, and Neves 15%.

The results further show candidates Eduardo Jorge (“PV”), Luciana Genro (“PSOL”), Pastor Everaldo (“PSC”) and José Maria (“PSTU”) with 1% of support each. Spoiled and blank votes amount to 6%, and 7% of the electors surveyed remain undecided as to whom they are voting for.

Respondents were also inquired about their choice in a possible runoff election. The answers indicate that if Rousseff were to face Silva, the latter would prevail, getting 48%, and Rousseff 41%. The statistics also reveal a fading difference between the two, as Marina Silva was predicted to win with 50% against 40% in Datafolha's previous study.

In a second round with Aécio Neves and Rousseff, the she would be re-elected with 49% against her rival, with 38% (in the previous week predictions were 48% against 40%, respectively). The institute also simulated a runoff with Marina Silva and Aécio Neves, in which Silva would be the victor, with 56% against 28%.

Datafolha listened to 10,054 voters in 361 municipalities from September 1 to 3. The margin of error stands at plus or minus two percentage points. The research was commissioned by TV Globo and newspaper Folha de S. Paulo.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira

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