The present article analyzes the 2002 Brazilian presidential elections: the context in which they took place and central aspects of the political party campaigning that preceded them. The data come from national level survey reports as well as from an academic survey carried out in the Greater São Paulo. The influence of demographic, socio-economic and attitudinal variables on voters' decisions, as well as their declared reasons for voting choices, are analyzed. Among those variables that seem to have exercised most influence on voting decision are voters' partisan sentiments, evaluation of the performance of incumbent politicians, and candidates' personal attributes, especially regarding administrative competence. Lula's victory is interpreted as more expressive of dissatisfaction with Fernando Henrique Cardoso's administration that as a lasting turn of the Brazilian electorate in a leftward direction.
Brazilian politics; presidential elections; voting behavior
