Reactions to the debate from le Monde, le Figaro and Reuters last evening:# Ce soir c'est Nicolas Sarkozy qui inspirait confiance et le débat va renforcer la dynamique autour de lui", a estimé Xavier Bertrand. Nicolas Sarkozy "a été davantage concret", a estimé M. Bertrand devant la presse, dans une boîte de nuit parisienne.
# Analysts said neither contender appeared to have landed a knockout blow just four days before their run-off election.
# "I don't think either managed to convince the other camp. Both spoke to their own electorate," said Anita Hausser, political commentator for LCI TV.
# "(Sarkozy) showed himself greatly superior ... (Royal) rather lost control of her tone and her remarks," said Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie.
# A le Monde poll had 53% saying Segie was the victor, 34% saying Sarko and 13% undecided.
Today came this:
François Bayrou : "Je ne voterai pas pour Sarkozy"
Whilst committed voters might not have wavered, if Segolene indeed picked up over half the swinging vote, plus the Bayrou declaration today, her strong performance in the debate might just get her over the line.
Unfortunately, like Blair's accession to power, it would be a triumph of style over substance. Her policies are decided on the run in a reactive manner, much like Blair's were. Euston is an example.
Her beauty is her selling point, as Tony's personal image and Nu-look team were.
As Ellee Seymour said:
"I heard an interview on the radio today between the Sarko/Sego camps with the Sarkos accusing Sego of flaunting her femininity in the campaign - well good luck to her."
Ellee has it right here - that is indeed her selling point, her femininity. Is it enough to become president?
I fear it may be.
As I said earlier, I watched it live. I thought Sego did better because she wasn't interrupting all the time and didn't get rattled. She also came over as quite strong. Then on came the Beeb's analyst [after I switched over to BBC World] and I couldn't believe we had watched the same debate, because she was saying it was Sego who had done all the interrupting! Then Nic Gowan [or whatever he's called] started going on about how Sego was wearing a black jacket, at which point I thought we were back in the 70s and lost consciousness. I really hope Sego makes it because, as Ellee says, she is inspirational to women.
ReplyDeleteStrange. Le Monde said she was shrill and Sarko kept having to tell her to calmez-vous. Don't know who to believe.
ReplyDelete