Sarkozy gains ground on Socialist rival — poll

Reuters ^ | Sun Jan 8, 2012 7:39am EST | (Reporting by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Alessandra Rizzo)

[Olog-hai]

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has cut his Socialist rival's lead to the smallest margin so far in the run up to an April and May presidential election, a poll showed on Sunday.

However, the poll showed that Socialist candidate François Hollande would still comfortably beat Sarkozy in a run-off.

The president has been capitalizing on his central role in Europe's struggle to contain its debt crisis, and gained ground even after announcing plans for an unpopular sales tax hike and after Hollande's campaign took a more aggressive tone.

In the first round of the two-stage vote, on April 22, Hollande would win 28 percent of the vote while Sarkozy would secure 26 percent, the poll by IFOP for weekly newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche found. …

Sarkozy hopes that, in the May 6 run-off, he can pick up ballots from people voting for far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and centrist François Bayrou in the first round. Pollsters say many of those voters have not decided yet who to pick in the second round.

Sarkozy, widely expected to announce in February that he is seeking a second mandate, has been gaining momentum in opinion polls even though his economic credentials are under fire, with France at risk of losing its AAA credit rating and unemployment running at a 12-year high. …

[Olog-hai]

I keep hearing about Le Pen being a real favorite among the people, though. Wonder why the MSM is trying to keep the focus off her?

[Ulysse]

Why ?

Because she is the only anti-oligarchs , anti-uncontroled islamic immigration, french candidate....Hope that she is reliable.

The MSM’ lackeys and slaves fear for their confortable positions and their dubious funds.

But i don’t believe the MSM on M.Lepen as on so many things.

I know that they are lying with no shame on a daily basis.
The propaganda is so obvious...Follow the money .

Many journalists are partying with politicians