You can't keep him down

摘要

Ever since he won the Socialist presidential primary last October, Francois Hollande has held a steady lead in the polls over his rival, Nicolas Sarkozy, the incumbent. For the past four weeks he has hung on to it even as Mr Sarkozy declared his candidacy, rolled up his sleeves and began to campaign energetically for France's tworound presidential election, in April and May. This week, however, for the first time in five months a poll put Mr Sarkozy ahead in the first round, by 28.5% to 27.5%. The poll, by Ifop, may be rogue, but it has opened up the race.