Brazil Election: Lula and Bolsonaro Battle for Key Swing State

Ouro Preto, the colonial city whose name means black gold. It was the first capital of Minas Gerais in southeast Brazil. The state is famous for its minerals, semi-precious stones, coffee, and of course, queijo minas, or Minas cheese. But Minas Gerais is also home to Brazil's second largest electorate. North, south, east, west, center, black, white, brown, indigenous. This is a diverse state. And the sum of all its parts is a litmus test of this nation's mood and its political swings. That's why this state has a reputation for predicting presidential winners. Alessandra is from a family of generations of craftsmen and women. We're all here, the majority, supporting Lula. We also ask José Tomás Zezinho, a rural farm worker who sells fruit. L is for Lula. Why? Because he helps us, even though we do need more schools, jobs and better health care. But Minas is sharply divided, just like the country. Salesman Wellington Luis says he'll vote for Flavio Bolsonaro, Lula's right-wing opponent. Our taxes are too high, prices too high, crime out of control. We need change. Valércio Alves agrees. Economic growth is stagnated. We need better jobs and education. The left had its chance. After election day, we'll feel the winds of change that Brazil needs. For centuries, Minas Gerais has played a major political role in Brazilian politics. In the previous election, President Lula won here by 50,000 votes. This time, his rival won the first round by more than half a million. That's why ahead of Sunday's runoff, both candidates are campaigning hard to clinch this state, well aware of the popular belief that whoever wins Minas wins Brazil. Lucia Newman, Al Jazeera, Ouro Preto, Brazil.