FRENCH ELECTIONS

The Independent has an article about the Sarkozys and the cover-up Sarkozy couple cover-up - it does not mention conjugal violence though. I have seen many websites that do, but one can find anything on the web, including conspiracy theories and screwball racist obsessions.

Evidently Royal is slowly closing the gap, but it would take a lot for her to be able to win...

Thanks all for your feedback. Looks like Royal definitely is your favourite. If I may comment on your reactions, looks like it's more "Tout sauf Sarkozy" (an aversion to the man and his policies) than a attraction to Royal.
If we take a more positive path, what is it that you like the most about her policies? What do you think will change in France if she gain the presidency?

It will be Sarkozy. Sego has played her experience as mum of (how many?) children as trump card too often, annoying the hell out of a lot of people. And she's not all that clued up in politics in general and in foreign politics in particular. And she's made some key enemies in her own party. Big clue: all the usual opportunists are currently sucking up to Sarko.

Funny, I've hardly heard her mention her maternal role a single time since she used it in the struggle to get the Socialist nomination -- that was in November 2006.

Donno if you followed the debate yesterday but she mentioned it once again (I am a mother of 4, bla bla bla)

And that's all you retained from a debate that lasted 2h40? I remember quite a few things from the debate, but that didn't strike me, and I didn't find it in the transcript of the debate in today's newspaper, so I am particularly interested in the "bla bla bla" part.

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<hr>And that's all you retained from a debate that lasted 2h40?<hr></blockquote>
No, I also retained that she was very agressive, that she lost her nerves and that she kept things very general ("I will let social partners talk about it said 9 times to avoid responding to questions"). Quite funny given her trying to portray her opponent as divisive and agressive, she was the one actually divise and agressive during the debate.

As for the bla bla, it's in her conclusion, when she pathetically said she could be a woman and do politics, and that Angela Merker was great hinting she would thus also do a good job as president.

The debate actually convinced me she definitely was not up to the job. And I am sorry to say that, it would have been great having a woman president of France. She simply is not credible.

Interesting take. While most of the French press said that the debate was a draw, most of the European media (except Le Soir) said that Royal was the winner just for standing up to Sarkozy

ITV: Royal's fiery performance subdues Sarko
CNN : Sparks fly in fierce Sarkozy, Royal TV debate

Anyway, François Bayrou has announced that he will definitely not vote for Sarkozy.

well, I guess journalists are more interested in the show than substance. (journalists complained in 95 that the debate was too consesual, not enough fights between Chirac and Jospin)
All Royal's supporters just said she was good because she was agressive towards Sarkozy. None mentioned her programme (indeed, she did not answer much question, the whole thing is still quite blurry, a mix of pleasing the extreme left and the centre).

An info I just received:

Sondage Opinionway : Nicolas Sarkozy l'emporte
Le candidat UMP a été jugé le plus convaincant par 53% des internautes
sondés à l'issue du débat de mercredi soir. Nicolas Sarkozy remporte son
duel avec la candidate socialiste sur tous les thèmes abordés, à l'exception
notable de la controverse sur les handicapés.

C'est le premier sondage réalisé après le duel du second tour, et il est en
faveur du candidat UMP. Plus d'un téléspectateur sur deux du débat de
mercredi soir a jugé le candidat UMP «le plus convaincant», contre 31% pour
Ségolène Royal. La moitié des électeurs ayant voté François Bayrou au
premier tour ont préféré Sarkozy, 25% seulement d'entre eux ayant jugé Royal
meilleure. Enfin, le dernier quart des électeurs centristes estime que «ni l'un
ni l'autre» des candidats n'a été le plus convainquant.

To sum it up, it says that Sarkozy was deemed the most convincing. Ony a third says Royal was.

And it also says that it was a web poll. We know how scientific and representative those things are.