PARIS – A moderate French leftist once dismissed as soft as a strawberry dominated nationwide primary voting Sunday, and emerged the top likely challenger to the divisive and impulsive Nicolas Sarkozy for the nation’s presidency. Pollsters say Francois Hollande, a longtime Socialist leader who urged his party to embrace European integration, could easily dislodge the little-loved Sarkozy as president. Sunday’s unusual Socialist Party primary produced the first electoral proof of Hollande’s popularity. But Hollande faces a tough runoff next week against the author of France’s 35-hour workweek, party stalwart Martine Aubry, as both seek…
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Francois Hollande emerges as top likely challenger to Nicolas Sarkozy for French presidency