Tarcísio de Freitas, the Governor of São Paulo, is strategically nationalizing significant portions of his re-election campaign. His dual aim is to assist Flávio Bolsonaro in the presidential race while simultaneously undermining his potential opponent, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad. This expansion beyond local issues aims to enhance Tarcísio's visibility and relevance at the national level.

In recent statements, Tarcísio has begun to publicly criticize Haddad, accusing him of imposing new taxes every 30 days during his tenure. This line of attack not only positions Tarcísio as a capable challenger to Haddad but also connects him to the broader dissatisfaction with the Lula administration's economic performance. Tarcísio's focus on national issues also reflects data indicating that Lula and Haddad face more significant challenges in São Paulo relative to their national popularity.

Recent Datafolha polling underscores the precarious position of both Lula and Haddad in São Paulo, showing them in a tight race with Flávio Bolsonaro. In the first round, Lula garners about 35% of the votes among state voters, closely trailing Bolsonaro's 37%. This scenario indicates a technical tie and heightens the competition, encouraging Tarcísio to leverage national themes in his campaign to attract more support as he seeks to secure his position while promoting Bolsonaro's presidential ambitions.