Your analysis of Sarko and Royal’s speeches echoes how I saw them as well. To me, she had a defeatest attitude, almost angry. Flat, boring, and full of platitudes and banalities.
The ABS “anyone but Sarko” and “Sarko=Facho” has begin.
Royal wants people to sign up for her 7 minutes for 7 Pillars of the Presidential Pact. A hideous reference to the 7 Pillars of Islam.
I think Bayrou’s voters will split almost 50/50. If he endorses Royal, he will lose most of the leadership of his Party UDF, which has already endorsed Sarko.
Le Pen is planning to endorse Royal.
Encouraging news about Bayrou’s party leaders tending to support Sarkozy. Bad news about LePen probably endorsing Royal. I guess he’s really more concerned about globalization (or opposing Israel or Jews?) than the immigration and assimilation issues? If you’re right, we have to hope that the vast majority of LePen’s voters are more reasonable than he is.