Brazil's final poll shows a one-point gap before Sunday's presidential vote

46.3 percent is the number that defines the current state of Brazil's presidential race. That is the support level for Flavio Bolsonaro in the CNT/MDA poll released Saturday. The survey places him ahead of incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva by 1.3 percentage points. Lula sits at 45 percent in the same data. The margin of error for this measurement is 2.2 percentage points.

The race has been tight since the first round. Bolsonaro won that initial vote with 47 percent of the total. Lula followed with 45 percent. A week before the latest data, the same polling group had Bolsonaro leading 46.8 percent to 45.9 percent. The numbers have shifted slightly, but the gap remains inside the margin of error. This makes the outcome of Sunday's ballot highly unpredictable.

Saturday marked the final day of public campaigning. Both candidates held major rallies to mobilize their bases. Lula, 80 years old, spoke from a truck on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. He wore a red hat and waved a national flag to the crowd. He used the event to contrast his platform with his rival's foreign policy ties. He told supporters, "The people must choose either someone who kisses the national flag or someone who kisses the American flag."

Flavio Bolsonaro held his event in the state of Minas Gerais in the southeast. Hundreds of motorcyclists participated in the rally. Many wore yellow national football shirts. Ebert Dorigo, one of the motorcyclists, spoke to AFP about his reasons for voting. He argued that Lula's Workers' Party had created a culture of dependence on government welfare. Dorigo said, "The values we uphold are nation and family."

The two candidates faced each other in a debate on Friday. They adopted a calmer tone during the exchange compared to earlier stages of the campaign. They still traded accusations regarding the economy and their respective records. Bolsonaro has pledged to build hundreds of thousands of new prison places. He also promised to cut government spending. His father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, is currently serving a 27-year sentence for an attempted coup.

The decision remains difficult for many undecided voters. Gabriela Ribeiro Viana, an event organizer, described the dilemma to AFP. She noted the lack of a third option in the runoff. Viana said, "If there were any other candidate, that would be a better option. But we're stuck choosing between the worst, the horrible, and the lesser evil."

Polls close on Sunday. The winner will be determined by the popular vote. The result will decide if Lula serves a fourth term or if the country shifts further right.