Hollande Tops Sarkozy in France’s Presidential Race – Will Face Off in May

By: Rachel Pulaski

(Telegraph)

Hollande led Sarkozy by about 29 to 26 percent after polling stations closed today in France. The two will meet in a head-to-head decider on May 6.
Reuters reported  via Democratic Underground:

Far-rightist Marine Le Pen threw France’s presidential race wide open on Sunday by scoring nearly 20 percent in the first round – votes that may determine the runoff between Socialist favorite Francois Hollande and conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Hollande led Sarkozy by about 29 to 26 percent in reliable computer projections broadcast after polling stations closed, and the two will meet in a head-to-head decider on May 6.

But Le Pen’s record score of 18-20 percent was the sensation of the night, beating her father’s 2002 result and outpolling hard leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon, in fourth place on 11 percent. Centrist Francois Bayrou finished fifth on less than 10 percent.

Telegraph has more on Sarkozy’s “swagger in face of imminent defeat

H/T Drudge

 

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