@dlowan,
Lula is term-limited. Dilma Rousseff, also of the Worker's Party, seems to have a 20 point lead over her nearest rival. There are some other candidates which could prevent her from taking a majority of the votes and force a run-off. I think that she will end up winning.
As for Lula, I think his 8 years have been successful in that some 20-million Brazilians have gotten out of poverty. Most of those are in rural areas where agriculture is the driving economic force. Brazil has been able to establish a market for a diverse range of foods (e.g. mandating that schools buy locally grown products). That is good for both the farmers and the students - who previously ate a diet of rice and beans and rice and beans.
I would certainly defer to Fbaezer and Robert on this. But it seems to me that Lula did make some progress in Brazil.