His colleagues gave him strong, but largely undeserved backing, while the French failed to support Le Verrier, who was unpopular with his colleagues.
Polls suggest that Le Pen will reach the final round, which presents voters on the left with a serious dilemma: Do they support the hard-right Thatcherite who advocates policies that they loathe, do they support Le Pen, or do they stay at home?
Polls suggest that Le Pen will reach the final round, which presents voters on the left with a serious dilemma: do they support the hard-right Thatcherite who advocates policies which they loathe, do they support Le Pen, or do they stay at home?
Some who once voted Communist now join others who are traditionally on the right — like the hunting and fishing lovers who abound here — to support Ms. Le Pen.
Sidonie Allard, a 19-year-old law student from Paris who turned out to support Ms. Le Pen on Tuesday, said she would watch the debate but had already decided to vote for Mr. Sarkozy.
(He did say that supporting Le Pen is out of the question).
A considerable number are expected to support Hollande, and Le Pen is not expected to discourage them.
The National Front got about 14 percent of the vote, but given the runoff system and the UMP's refusal to support National Front candidates, Ms. Le Pen's party is likely to get only a few seats.
But in failing to support Mr Megret, Mr Le Chevallier has opened the way for a local election in which the two components of the National Front could clash head-on.
The National Front got about 13.6 percent of the vote, the third-largest of any party, but given the runoff system and the U.M.P.'s refusal to support National Front candidates, Ms. Le Pen's party is likely to get only a few seats.
She bombarded German positions around Omaha Beach until 13 June, when she was moved to support ground forces in Grandcamp les Bains.
