How France's Sarkozy masterminded election victory

PARIS (Reuters) - Nicolas Sarkozy's election triumph on Sunday was the result of a meticulously planned campaign based around a united party and a fierce personal ambition that drove him towards France's presidency for decades.

When Sarkozy and his wife Cecilia strolled hand-in-hand to the Interior Ministry as he took up his post there in May 2002, he already had the 2007 presidential election clearly in his sights.

"It's hard to put a precise date on it, but it's clear that in 2002 he already wanted to go for it," Sarkozy's campaign chief of staff Claude Gueant told Reuters.

Others say he had been dreaming of the presidency for much longer, but the ministry became the base camp of an assault on the pinnacle of French power that culminated in Sunday's defeat of Socialist Segolene Royal.

Sarkozy's tough talking and no-nonsense style as interior minister established his credentials as the leading light of the conservative Union for a Political Movement, and he became its leader in 2004.

Uniting the UMP behind him, he turned it into a election campaign juggernaut that overpowered Royal, who failed to unify the fractured Socialist party. On the way he survived countless setbacks, even being spurned by President Jacques Chirac.

Sarkozy won the UMP's nomination as its presidential candidate in mid-January, and rolled out his campaign with the precision of a Swiss watch.

Outspoken comments on crime, immigration and national identity were intended to rally mainstream right and far-right voters and he also saw off a mid-race surge by a centrist candidate.

"You have to be honest, Nicolas Sarkozy has run a very focused, targeted campaign," said Socialist spokesman Julien Dray, all but conceding the contest on Friday.

ROYAL GAFFES

By contrast, Royal emerged as a serious candidate only after French voters rejected the European Union Constitution in a 2005 referendum and won the Socialist nomination last year despite suggestions from rivals she was a lightweight.

Instead of pressing home her advantage as the only leftist candidate seen as having a chance of beating Sarkozy, Royal stalled by announcing a nationwide "listening phase" and saying she would present her manifesto only in mid-February.

She then left for a Middle East tour, handing the domestic news agenda back to Sarkozy. In Lebanon she sparked fresh doubts about her ability by apparently agreeing with a Hezbollah lawmaker in Lebanon that U.S. foreign policy was insane.

A public difference over tax policy with partner Francois Hollande, the Socialist Party chief, was followed by revelations they had paid a wealth tax on their joint earnings and property portfolio, hurting her reputation as defender of the poor.

A new low point came when a senior economics aide quit in a row over the costing of her program. He portrayed Royal as dangerously incompetent and joined Sarkozy's campaign.

Her policy pronouncements were at times corrected next day by party officials, leaving voters confused about her message and highlighting a fundamental weakness in her campaign -- the absence of a party machine totally devoted to her victory.

A poll after a televised debate with Royal on May 2 showed she did better on schools and reducing social inequalities but lost out on 16 out of 20 topics, including all major campaign themes such as jobs, boosting growth, Europe and pensions.

Personal attacks on Sarkozy characterized the campaign, including rumors about his relationship with his wife who did not vote with her husband on Sunday, fuelling speculation she will not be at his side when he becomes president.

(Additional reporting by Emmanuel Jarry)