<\/p>\n
Brazil\u2019s two main presidential candidates<\/a><\/span> kicked off their campaigns on Sunday, rallying supporters in their political strongholds ahead of what is expected to be a tight October election.<\/p>\n President Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva<\/a><\/span> spoke with nostalgia to more than 10,000 supporters at the Vila Euclides Stadium outside Sao Paulo \u2014 a city where he rose to political fame 47 years ago as a metalworkers union leader during the country\u2019s 1964-1985 military dictatorship.<\/p>\n The 80-year-old, wearing a hat after a skin cancer diagnosis, insisted Brazil needs more of his policies.<\/p>\n Sen. Fl\u00e1vio Bolsonaro, one of the sons of former President Jair Bolsonaro<\/a><\/span>, gathered with thousands of voters on the Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. His father, under house arrest following his conviction for an attempted coup, did not attend the rally.<\/p>\n Lula echoed his own earlier comments denouncing foreign interference<\/a><\/span> in Brazil\u2019s politics. His allies have accused the U.S. government of seeking<\/a><\/span> to boost Fl\u00e1vio Bolsonaro\u2019s bid with measures such as raising tariffs on Brazilian exports and revoking the visa of Brazil\u2019s ambassador to Washington.<\/p>\n Speaking about Brazil\u2019s vast reserves of rare minerals, Lula said \u201cno one (abroad) will tap our minerals. We are going to tap them for the benefit of the Brazilian people.\u201d<\/p>\n Bolsonaro argued that he is \u201cthe only one who can sit with the United States, with China, with Israel, with the Middle East, with India and with Argentina to make the best and biggest trade deals for our nation.\u201d<\/p>\n His party\u2019s convention was attended by Argentina\u2019s President Javier Milei. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several members of the Trump administration have expressed support for him.<\/p>\n Voters\u2019 attention is expected to perk up after TV ads start<\/strong><\/p>\n Sunday was the first campaign day the 13 candidates in the running but many voters are expected to pay more attention once campaign ads start airing on TV and radio at the end of the month.<\/p>\n \u201cIt looks like we are starting slow this time,\u201d said 68-year-old Fl\u00e1vio Alves, a Lula supporter who lives on the same street where the rally was underway. \u201cWe all expect a narrow election, but now Lula is in government, things are different.\u201d<\/p>\n Four years ago, Lula beat incumbent Jair Bolsonaro with 50.9% of the vote.<\/p>\n Another presidential candidate, Ronaldo Caiado, a former state governor and an agribusiness leader, toured the surroundings of Brazil\u2019s capital Brasilia and reinforced his anti-Lula credentials.<\/p>\n Another Lula opponent, Romeu Zema, met voters and attended a Catholic ceremony in the countryside of Minas Gerais, considered a bellwether state for the elections \u2014 a state he had governed until recently.<\/p>\n