It is interesting to hear pollsters and commentators hedging their bets with one third of the French electors still apparently undecided.

Clearly many electors do not like the offering of either of the two main candidates, but some??of them understand the need to vote tactically because of??a dangerous system of PR France uses. If you think your candidate is bound to come first in the first round there is an argument for voting for someone he or she can beat easily in the second round who with your help can get into the second round.

Whilst part of the reason for??having seven candidates of the "left" and the five candidates of the "right" is disllusion with the main parties, part is what you expect from a PR system. Some with strong beliefs reason that if they back an "extreme" candidate, it will force the main candidate they will end up voting for to move further in their direction. This technique can so easily backfire, and you end up with the opposite of what you want! PR does encourage movement to the extremes.

French people know they need change, but they are not sure they will like it if they get it. All serious candidates are offering change, but are not spelling out any changes that might hurt their voters. It is a cat and mouse game between candidates and voters, which reveals what a weak system it is to try to get a sensible decision.The electorate still looks very split between those who reluctantly see they need to join the global ecomnomy, and those who think one more dose of socialism at home will sort it all out.

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