We have 3 declared candidates: Royal; Strauss-Kahn and Fabius. Only two more can join: Jack Lang, the perennial "popular" Culture Minister (but there are increasing hints that he may drop out in order to avoid an embarrassing score, as Royal has taken the "popular" spot now), and Hollande, who, despite saying that he would not be a candidate, can still decide at the last minute to be.

Royal-Strauss-Kahn-Fabius actually offers a pretty decent choice in terms of policy choices and personalities.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes