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Brazil presidential contenders battle in heated debate; economy, corruption main topics

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, who is running for re-election with the Workers Party, second from right, poses for photos as campaigns at a rally in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014. Rousseff will face rival candidate Aecio Neves, from the Brazilian Social Democracy Party, in a presidential runoff on Oct. 26. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) (The Associated Press)

Aecio Neves, Brazilian Social Democracy Party presidential candidate, smiles at a news conference prior to a campaign rally in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014. Neves, a center-right, business-friendly candidate, is challenging incumbent Dilma Rousseff in the Oct. 26 presidential runoff. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) (The Associated Press)

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, who is running for re-election with the Workers Party, waves to photographers during a commercial break as she attends a presidential candidate debate in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. Rousseff will face Aecio Neves, candidate with the Brazilian Social Democracy Party, in a presidential runoff on Sunday, Oct. 26. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) (The Associated Press)

Brazil's presidential contenders are squaring off in another debate 10 days ahead of voting in the deadlocked race.

President Dilma Rousseff and rival Aecio Neves are fighting to win over voters ahead of the Oct. 26 runoff ballot.

Thursday's debate is centering on what have emerged as the top two issues: how to turn around Brazil's fledgling economy and who would best battle corruption.

The center-right Neves of the Social Democracy Party sharply questioned Rousseff about a growing kickback scandal at state-run oil company Petrobras. A former top-ranking executive has told investigators the governing Workers' Party benefited from the scheme, which it denies.

Rousseff shot back that she has battled corruption, including forcing out several of her own Cabinet ministers early in her term after corruption accusations surfaced against them.