“Vote for Barack Obama! He stands for change!” chants from speakers in Brazil
“Vote for Barack Obama! He stands for change!”. You would expect to hear such a voice on the streets of Chicago, but that was the voice from speakers on the back of a pickup truck in the street of Belford Roxo on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, as campaign workers pass out leaflets, a rapper chants from speakers on the back of a pickup truck: “Vote for Barack Obama! He stands for change!”
Due to a quirk in Brazilian electoral law, candidates can put any name they want on the ballot, as long as it isn’t offensive. At least eight candidates have chosen to be known as “Barack Obama” on the electoral ballot in the Brazilian local elections taking place on Oct. 5 this year.
The Illinois senator is hugely popular in Brazil. The prospect of a black U.S. president has generated enthusiasm across the country, where more people call themselves black than anywhere except Nigeria.
Yes Brazil has the second biggest black population in the world, including African countries. Only Nigeria has more black people than Brazil.
A variety of Brazilian candidates are hoping to muster some of Obama’s popularity into office.
Claudio Henrique dos Anjos, who’s running for mayor of Belford Roxo on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, took the name Barack Obama de Belford Roxo and said he’s gone from third place in the polls to a tie.
Dos Anjos decided to run for mayor last November after people said he looked like Obama, and knew the name recognition couldn’t hurt.
Across the city, his campaign posters endorse him as “Claudio Henrique – Our Barack Obama”.
“He has influenced our campaigning, not only because he is the first Black candidate (running for President in the United States) but because he fought for his dreams and believed in his dreams,and defeated the odds, This attitude is contagious both in Brazil and the world at large.”” dos Anjos said, sitting in his campaign headquarters.
Hoping to become the first black mayor in Belford Roxo, dos Anjos made parallels between his competition and that of Obama’s. “We only have McCains here,” he said.
“Belford Roxo became a city nearly 20 years ago, and since then, there has only been one political group that is constantly in and out of power.”
As dos Anjos continued to campaign on the streets on Thursday, one woman said she would back the candidate for his youthful appeal.
“He is my mayor,” she said. “I like his ideas and I like the thought of having someone young in power.”
Dos Anjos said that if he and Obama both win their campaign, he would celebrate by inviting the Illinois senator to his mother’s house for a meal.
“I would invite Barack Obama to have a feijoada in Dona Celia’s house,” referring to Brazil’s national dish of rice, beans and stewed meat.
Alexandre Nunes Jacinto, a 48-year-old air conditioner salesman, says his candidacy for city council in the dusty northeastern town of Petrolina is partly a tribute to the American. He read Obama’s biography four years ago and was impressed with the way he crossed racial barriers.
“Like Barack, I believe racism is something we should overcome,” he told The Associated Press. And his new name has stuck.
“Since I registered my new name, Alexandre died,” Jacinto said. “Now everybody calls me Barack.”