Analysis-Brazil's Bolsonaro caught off guard by campaign's ugly closing chapter

FILE PHOTO: Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro participate in a candidates' debate ahead of a runoff election, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, October 16, 2022. REUTERS/Mariana Greif/File Photo

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's unexpectedly close presidential race has taken an ugly turn in the final weeks ahead of an Oct. 30 runoff vote, even by the bruising standards of the past year, with insinuations of cannibalism, pedophilia and devil worship.

The tone shifted so quickly that the campaign of President Jair Bolsonaro, who won office four years ago with an aggressive digital assault on rivals, was put on the defensive, losing precious time for his strategy to come from behind and win reelection.