Without Campos, PSB evaluates new candidate in PE.

Pernambuco 247 - The death of former Pernambuco governor and PSB presidential candidate, Eduardo Campos, has opened up questions about the potential of his political protégé, former Finance Secretary Paulo Câmara, who has only 13% of voting intentions, far behind Senator Amando Monteiro Neto, who has 47% of the electorate's preference, according to a Datafolha poll released this Friday (15). To preserve Campos' electoral legacy, the governor of Pernambuco, João Lyra Neto (PSB), and the candidate for the Senate on the socialist ticket, former minister Fernando Bezerra Coelho, reportedly discussed the possibility of replacing Paulo Câmara's name with someone better known to Pernambuco voters. Senator Jarbas Vasconcelos (PMDB) assessed the possibility as "a dirty trick" to hinder the socialist candidacy.

The discussion between Lyra and FBC reportedly took place in São Paulo, according to the Blog do Noblat. The socialists allegedly discussed the direction of the Pernambuco election on Friday night while awaiting the identification and release of the bodies of Campos and his four aides, as well as the two crew members who died in the plane crash on Wednesday in Santos, on the coast of São Paulo.

 Paulo Câmara's campaign depended heavily on Eduardo Campos' presence. With a technical background, Câmara had never run for office and was unknown to the general population. According to a Datafolha poll released this Saturday, 57% of voters don't know that he was Campos' chosen candidate for Governor of the State. The situation isn't any better for Armando, as 65% of Pernambuco residents also don't know that he has President Dilma's support. The difference, however, is that, unlike Câmara, the PTB member is known throughout the state.

This reason alone was enough for Campos to intensify his schedule in Pernambuco. Campos was by his political protégé's side for the past five weeks, taking advantage of any trip to the Northeast to reinforce his colleague's campaign. Another strategy to boost Câmara's candidacy was the radio and television election guide, where images of the two, side by side, would be broadcast to all regions of the state. Now, without Campos, The next steps in the campaign are uncertain, and the possibility of a change in the ticket is real. According to the rules defined by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), the substitution of candidates for major offices – whether president of the Republic, governor, or senator – by coalition or political party, must be made up to 20 days before the elections. In the last election, in 2012, this change could be made until the eve of the vote.

Both Lyra and FBC aspired to succeed Campos at the Palácio do Campo das Princesas (Governor's Palace), but their aspirations were thwarted. Lyra ended up assuming the remainder of Campos's term, while FBC was tasked with facing federal deputy João Paulo (PT) in the Senate race. The former minister, however, is also trailing in the polls and, like Câmara, was counting on Campos's presence to boost his candidacy. The former minister denied any possibility of a change in the PSB's ticket in Pernambuco. "Eduardo's wish will be honored. Our candidate for governor is Paulo Câmara," he stated.

Upon learning of the possibility of a radical change in the leadership of the Socialist Party ticket, Senator Jarbas Vasconcelos – who renewed the alliance with Campos and the PSB in the last municipal elections in 2010 – described the possibility as "a dirty trick" to disrupt the Socialist campaign. "Here, we have to try to run the campaign without him, without making mistakes. If we have to use emotion, it must be used correctly, rationally, and we have to get things done. We have to visit the state, which has more than 180 municipalities," Jarbas said in a press interview. 

 The situation reportedly even led to the involvement of Campos' widow, former first lady Renata Campos, in the matter. Considered a strong leader, she is said to have scheduled a meeting with the PSB leadership for next Monday (18), the day after the funeral, to ask for the continuation of Eduardo's project at the national and state levels, thus reinforcing Paulo Câmara's candidacy. On Monday, Renata Campos will turn 47 years old.