that you would even acknowledge this supposed "common wisdom" as it becomes clearer and clearer that it has no real basis in truth and is just a big circle-jerk of the media establishment.

Polls have moved by just a couple of points - and the more noticeable trend is actually that of the increase for Bayrou; meanwhile the media are beginning to pay attention to SR's efforts to gather proposals from the general population, something snickered at by the Parisian elites but obviously very popular wherever it is taking place around France.

As to Sarko appearing more to the left, I'm a bit surprised by that claim after his extravagant trip to the expatriate community in London and his public love affair with Blair.

But hey, maybe I'm blinded by my prejudices!

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