The first black presidential hopeful of Brazil, Marina Silva, is dealing with two obstacles: one, related to her low poll numbers. The other she faces is losing support from an American superhero: the Hulk.

It was revealed this week that Silva's poll numbers have put her currently in third place to the incumbent resident of Brazil -- Dilma Rousseff. While campaign poll numbers are only a litmus test of the moment, Mark Ruffalo, star of "The Avengers," in the U.S. has withdrawn his support for Silva, citing her anti-gay ideals.

Brazil has made history this year, and if Silva wins the election it could make the Portuguese-speaking country have a larger influence on the world stage. Brazil has just hosted the World Cup, and it will host the next Olympics, the final time leading up to Brazil's presidential election has been fast and dramatic, CNN reported. Brazilians go to vote today.

The political match between Rousseff and Silva has been biblical. Silva portrays herself as David going against the proverbial Goliath, in this case Rousseff. Some Brazilian voters might consider Silva meek, but when she mentions her own upbringing, Silva shines with strength and experience.

"I was illiterate until I was 16. I suffered five times from malaria, a few times from hepatitis, also metal poisoning. I lived in slavery. I lost my mother at fourteen," Silva said about growing up. "If I were the result of what the past did to me, I wouldn't be here today. But I tried to do something good, productive, and creative with my past and that's why I'm here, full of energy and experience, ready to move on to the next stage," CNN reported.

While Silva is considered -- by the rest of the world -- to be a historic candidate because she is the first black Brazilian presidential hopeful, her campaign does not try to harp on it. Half of the voters are of African descent, Reuters reported. If you could compare it to U.S. President Barack Obama's support from African-Americans in the 2008 and 2012 elections, then Silva could win in an extremely close election.

Brazil has had a complex history with race, but both political leaders are talking about what is happening now. Both campaigns have been focusing on the economy. Since Rousseff took office, her political party, the Workers' Party, has made an impact by reducing poverty, especially among blacks, Reuters reported.

Silva's political platform has been more moderate, and she too has avoided the topic of race.

"I'm very proud of my identity as a black woman," Silva said, Reuters reports. "But I don't make political use of my faith, or my color. I'm going to govern for blacks, whites, Asians, believers, non-believers, independent of their color or social conditions.

Silva has portrayed herself to be a moderate person, but some disagree with her views about the LGBT community, such as Ruffalo, who played the Hulk in "The Avengers" film. Back in August of this year, Silva changed her political manifesto, dropping the pledge "back proposals defending civil marriage" for same-sex couples. Silva's newest version changed the word "marriage" to "unions," Pink News reported. Silva promises to "defend the rights relating to civil unions between same-sex couples."

For Ruffalo, Silva's promise is not enough. On his official Tumblr account, Ruffalo wrote, "I cannot, in good conscience, support a candidate who takes a hard right approach to issues such as gay marriage and reproductive rights, even if that candidate is willing to do the right thing on environmental issues." Silva is also a well-known ecologist.

"At this time it would be good to know definitively where Candidate Silva stands on these issues and in no uncertain terms. It is a little bit murky and unclear presently," Ruffalo wrote on his account, the Pink News reported.

Silva is a member of the Assembly of God church in Brazil. Her church's website states that God affirmed there is a "great displeasure" and "opposition" toward same-sex conduct, the International Business Times (IBT) reported.

The website also goes on to state that "Homosexuality is both a sin against God and mankind. It runs contrary to the divine plan, purpose, and will of God who created us in His image."

Silva responded to Ruffalo's comments via Twitter, stating that she supports "gay civil marriage and expresses this in her government program," IBT reported.