BRAZIL’S presidential race was left in stunned disarray today after socialist candidate Eduardo Campos was killed when a small plane carrying him and aides crashed.

Mr Campos and the six other people aboard the aircraft died in the accident on Wednesday, which came less than two months ahead of the October 4 presidential election.

President Dilma Rousseff declared three days of official mourning for Mr Campos and said she was suspending her campaign during that time. 

“Brazil is reeling from the death of a promising young politician,” President Rousseff said.

He had served as a state and federal representative and as Pernambuco governor and had been allied with President Rousseff and her Workers Party, but broke away ahead of the presidential campaign.

Mr Campos’ running mate was former environment minister Marina Silva and it is likely that the Brazilian Socialist Party will ask her to step in.