Brazil's tense presidential run-off campaign feels like a psychological thriller

With music blaring, parade floats and glitter in the colours of the Brazilian flag, several hundred supporters rallied in street-carnival style on Wednesday in the working-class neighbourhood of Bangu, in western Rio, to support right-wing presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro. In the heart of the Vidigal favela some 40 kilometres (25 miles) away, a few dozen members of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's Workers’ Party were rallying the troops by handing out flyers to the last undecided voters. But in both Bangu and Vidigal, the festive spirit is gone. Both camps mobilise their 'armies' Since the extremely close first-round results were announced on October 4, war has been declared between the two candidates. The self-proclaimed “Commander-in-Chief of the President”, MP André Janones of Minas Gerais, has created “Lula’s army” – a WhatsApp channel that garnered more than 8 million followers in just a few days. The channel aims to mobilise activists and anti-Bolsonaristas by issuing them challenges on social media or in the streets. Surprised at not having won the first round, Lula has handed over control of his campaign to the younger generation of elected party officials. Thes...