Lula retains solid lead over Bolsonaro for 2022 Brazil race, poll shows

FILE PHOTO: Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures as he attends the release of the book "Why is Lula innocent and why they tried to destroy the greatest leader of Brazil"‚ in Sao Paulo, Brazil August 12, 2021. REUTERS/Carla Carniel/File Photo

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva remains ahead of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro by a significant margin in voter preferences for the 2022 elections, a survey by pollster Datafolha showed on Friday.

Voter support for Lula slipped to 44% from 46% in July, and Bolsonaro gained a percentage point to 26%, according to the poll, which asked voters to chose as if the election were now.