Talk about timing. With presidential elections just two weeks away, Silvio Santos, 58, one of Brazil's most popular television variety-show hosts, last week proclaimed himself a candidate. The startling announcement might have seemed laughable -- were Santos' challenge not so serious to the three leading contenders. If none of the candidates gets an absolute majority, the two leading candidates go forward from the first round of balloting on Nov. 15 to the runoff vote on Dec. 17. Within two days of Santos' announcement, newspaper polls showed the upstart candidate alternately in first and second place -- meaning he has a shot...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
