Francois Bayrou, France's 'Third Man'

There is a man who could upset the darlings of French politics. He has what appeals to the ordinary Frenchman. Nothing like an underdog to impress me. I wish him well.
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Francois Bayrou, France's 'Third Man'
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A look at the frontrunners in the race for the French presidency suggests a straightforward contest between left and right.
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The socialist Segolene Royal wants to help the underdog and renationalise utilities, while the conservative Nicolas Sarkozy is strong on law and order and tax cuts.
But both are facing a new challenge from the "Third Man" of French politics, Francois Bayrou - who seeks to bridge what he calls the "prehistoric" left-right divide.
The head of the centrist Union for French Democracy (UDF) was for a long time an also-ran in the race.
But in recent days opinion polls have credited Mr Bayrou with as much as 17% support - closing the gap with Ms Royal to just six points.
And some pollsters suggested he would beat either her or Mr Sarkozy in a run-off.
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Mr Bayrou, 55, the son of a farmer in south-western France, did not attend an elite school. He studied literature instead, and worked as a teacher while continuing to help his mother on the farm.
His background and lack of personal fortune have helped him connect with voters.
Mr Bayrou has also used his farming roots to highlight his non-ideological approach to politics.
He once joked that "plodding along at tractor speed" should become fashionable again in France.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6383287.stm