João Campos seeks to bolster Lula endorsement amid poll deficit

João Campos, the candidate for governor of Pernambuco, is intensifying efforts to reinforce his image as President Lula's chosen successor in the state. This strategic move comes in response to recent polls indicating Governor Raquel Lyra of the PSD party is ahead in the race.

A Genial/Quaest survey released Tuesday shows Lyra with 45% of voter intentions, compared to Campos's 39%. While the candidates are technically tied within the margin of error, the numbers are concerning for the PSB party, as Campos had previously held a lead over Lyra in an earlier poll. Campaign assessments suggest he has lost support from centrist voters who previously backed him when he was mayor of Recife.

Particularly worrying for Campos's campaign is that some voters who support President Lula have declared their intention to vote for Lyra. To combat this, Campos intends to prominently feature his "Lulista" (pro-Lula) affiliation in his campaign. He plans to broadcast this alliance during street events, rallies, and in his radio and television advertisements.

Campos also plans to appear alongside Lula at key events. He will attend the national convention of the PSB in Brasília on Wednesday and the national convention of the PT in São Paulo on August 2. Campos hopes to secure Lula's presence on the state-level campaign stage before the first round of elections, though Lula's attendance in Pernambuco has not yet been confirmed. As president of the PSB, Campos also aims to forge alliances with the PT in as many states as possible.