Special Report: Global Financial Crisis    

Special Report: U.S. presidential election 2008    

    RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday that he believed the U.S. people would vote for the Democrat candidate Barack Obama in the upcoming presidential election because of the international financial crisis, local media reported.

    Lula made the remarks in a meeting with businessmen in Sao Paulo. It was the first time Lula expressed his opinion on the U.S. presidential election, which will take place on Nov. 4.

    The crisis would help Obama's campaign for the U.S. presidency, Lula was quoted as saying.

    "There may not be large conceptual and ideological differences between Democrats and Republicans. But from a symbolic point of view, electing a black man in the U.S. is a challenge to its people," Lula added.

    Lula reaffirmed that the global financial crisis is the consequence of "irresponsible gambling" in the international financial system, which he compared to a casino. He said Brazil was prepared to fight the adverse situation.