PRESSURE ON SERRRA AND AÉCIO NEVES GROWS AFTER LATEST POLL

The Worker’s Party pre-candidate, Dilma Rousseff, posted significant gains in the Datafolha opinion poll on presidential succession, putting the opposition candidates under pressure to kick start their campaigns. The reduction in advantage of São Paulo governor’s José Serra (PSDB) over Dilma from 14% to 4% was more than expected, sparking fears that he may opt out of a national campaign to run for reelection in São Paulo.

Another concern is for the opposition is the reduction of the difference of levels of support between Serra and Dilma in the southeast of the country, from 22 to 14 points. As a result, the pressure on the governor of Minas, Aécio Neves, to accept the vice-presidency on Serra’s ticket also increases.

The opposition’s main concern is if the official campaign gets underway with Dilma Rousseff leading the polls, taking the spotlight off the PSDB and affecting its popular momentum.
The drop in Serra’s performance in the poll is being attributed to his delay in making his candidacy official as well as the problems currently being faced by the São Paulo governor, such as devastating flooding in the State in the first two months of the year.

 – Our problem is that we do not have a defined candidate, which creates doubts among our allies. And this is obviously of concern – admited DEM leader, Senator José Agripino (RN).

 “We need to stay focused and level headed”

There is now also growing momentum among the opposition that the fact Serra is losing ground to Dilma could lead Aécio to opt for running as a presidential candidate if the former chooses to run for reelection in Sao Paulo. Serra and Aécio are scheduled to meet in Minas Gerais this week.

Serra’s performance in the polls also makes it more difficult for the PTB and PSC to negotiate their inclusion in the national alliance idealized by the opposition, which would guarantee more air time on national TV for the PSDB candidate from six to eight minutes. 

 – We need to be patient and focused during this period even if Dilma draws ahead in the polls, but this will only be the case until Serra announces his official candidacy – said Deputy Jutahy Júnior (PSDB-BA), one of Serra’s main allies.

 Brimmming over with optimism, the national president of the PT party, José Eduardo Dutra, considers that the resulto f the opinion poll shows that the party is on the right track and that Dilma’s name is consolidated among the people for the elections in October. Dutra also does not believe that Serra will give up running for the presidency.