France's UMP political party presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy rides a horse named 'Universe' as he visits a ranch in Saintes-Maries de la Mer, in the Camargue region of south-eastern France, April 20, 2007. (Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)
Posted on 04/21/2007 8:07:34 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
PARIS (Reuters) - Right-wing leader Nicolas Sarkozy goes into France's presidential election on Sunday with a narrow lead over Socialist Segolene Royal in most opinion polls, but with millions of voters still unsure whom to back.
Most polls before a campaign blackout on Friday night showed Sarkozy, 52, a few percentage points ahead of Royal, 53, and indicated they would contest a run-off on May 6. One poll predicted a dead heat between them.
Surprises cannot be ruled out because the surveys suggested up to a third of the 44.5 million voters were not sure of their choice, giving hope to third-placed centrist Francois Bayrou and veteran far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen.
Le Pen shocked France in the last election in 2002 by eliminating the Socialist candidate in the first round, only to lose a second round run-off against Jacques Chirac.
This year's campaign has been dominated by calls for change after 12 years of rule by Chirac and by economic concerns such as high unemployment, especially among alienated youths who rioted in deprived housing estates less than two years ago.
But the campaign has also focused as much on personality as policy.
Sarkozy, the son of a Hungarian immigrant, has taken a tough line on crime and illegal immigration and is considered the most business-friendly candidate by financial markets. He is portrayed as dangerously authoritarian by his rivals.
"We need a new Renaissance," Sarkozy told a campaign rally on Thursday.
FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT?
Royal, who wants to be France's first woman president, has vowed to raise the monthly minimum wage and pensions and to create 500,000 jobs for young people, but says she will not raise overall taxes. Opponents say she is incompetent.
She has promised to build a "fairer and stronger" France, in which all citizens would be equal: "A France that does not discriminate a job seeker because he does not have the right skin color, the right name, the right address."
Bayrou, 55, hopes voters disillusioned with the traditional right-left split in French politics will turn to him in the hope of securing a real break with the past.
Voting in the first round of the election began in some of France's overseas territories on Saturday and was due to start in mainland France at 8.00 a.m. (0600 GMT).
The first opinion polls indicating a result are expected at the close of voting at 8.00 p.m..
The BVA and Ipsos research institutes on Friday showed Royal narrowing the gap on Sarkozy but forecast the former interior minister would go on to win the May 6 run-off.
But a CSA poll for Le Parisien daily made the race a dead heat and put Le Pen in third place ahead of Bayrou.
France's UMP political party presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy rides a horse named 'Universe' as he visits a ranch in Saintes-Maries de la Mer, in the Camargue region of south-eastern France, April 20, 2007. (Philippe Wojazer/Reuters)
The Citroen Metisse, a diesel hybrid sports concept car from the French automaker Citroen, is on display at the Shanghai Auto 2007 held in Shanghai, China, Saturday, April 21, 2007. Alternative vehicles are a theme of the Shanghai Auto Show 2007, which opens Sunday. Automakers including up-and-coming Chinese competitors plan to show fuel cell and gasoline-electric hybrid models. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
uhhh, I posted the car pic cuz the car looks hot and .. the gal did too.. Viva la Citroen (model not included)
Sounds like she is buying votes with promises — same as Madam Hillary wants to do.
Good luck, Mr. Sarkozy! Save the Republic!
Great photo of Sarko in La Camargue, cowboy country in France.
"It’s not chic to admit it, but even woolly liberals know it has to be Sarkozy"
NormsRev: Viva la Citroen (model not included)
Which model Norm?
He is winning because he promised not to outsource the manufacturing of white flags.
I have never seen a Frenchie in overalls, so I guess that is a safe promise.
Let’s hope that Sarko errs on the side of being too much like Le Pen instead of Chirac.
Let’s hope he doesn’t take any shiite from the Muslims.
(pun intended)
There’s hope that the pro-American will defeat the socialist who has 4 kids with her socialist associate and who refuses to get married, saying that there is no need for marriage.
There should be results around mid-afternoon East Coast time, correct?
GO SARKO!
While Sarkozy is a far better alternative than Segoine, I doubt he has the onions to lessen the grip of socialism.
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