Brazil votes after bitter campaign

President Dilma Rousseff was counting on Brazilians’ gratefulness for a decade of progress to overcome concerns about a sluggish economy as the leftist leader sought re-election after a bitter, unpredictable campaign.

Rousseff held a slight lead in one major poll over her centre-right opponent, Aecio Neves, but the two were deadlocked in another.

The choice between Rousseff and Neves has split Brazilians into two camps — those who think only the president will continue to protect the poor and advance social inclusion, versus those who are certain that only the contender’s market-friendly economic policies can see Brazil return to solid growth.