Millions of Brazilians head to polls

RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Brazilians headed to the polls Sunday following a campaign rife with corruption allegations against incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The leftist da Silva maintained a sizable lead in polls heading into the election, though his numbers suffered in the last two weeks after members of his Workers' Party were discovered carrying $800,000 allegedly to be used to pay for a dossier of corruption on his rivals.

Heading into the election, the president was polling just shy of 50 percent of the prospective vote. His main rival, former Sao Paulo Gov. Geraldo Alckmin, had 35 percent.

Da Silva needs 50 percent plus one vote to avoid a potential runoff race four weeks from now.