Sarkozy, Royal running neck-and-neck, poll shows

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2007

PARIS (AFP) — A public opinion poll released Monday showed French presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist rival Segolene Royal running neck-and-neck, each garnering 50 percent in a runoff.

It was the first time since early January that Royal was seen on equal footing with Sarkozy, the candidate of the right-wing ruling party, and seemed to confirm the findings of a weekend survey that put her just one point behind.

But a second poll from IPSOS released Monday suggested Sarkozy would still beat Royal in a runoff with 53 percent of votes compared to 47 percent for her.

Sarkozy, 52, has been ahead in 29 consecutive polls released since he won the nomination for the governing Union for the Popular Movement (UMP) on January 14.

The LH2 poll...