France's Sarkozy set to look to centre in run-off

PARIS (Reuters) - Having veered right to ensure he reached France's presidential run-off ballot, conservative contender Nicolas Sarkozy is now likely to come back to the centre to ensure he triumphs in the decisive second round.

Sarkozy, 52, topped Sunday's first-round election with about 30 percent of the votes but faces a strong challenge from Socialist Segolene Royal, who was second with around 25 percent.

The biggest threat to the tough-talking former interior minister, who has often used fiery rhetoric when vowing to crack down on crime, could now be the fear that the idea of a Sarkozy presidency induces in some voters.

Support for Royal rose in opinion polls during the closing stages of the election campaign when she openly attacked what she said were Sarkozy's dangerous views and divisive nature. She is likely to continue her attacks in the second round.

Sarkozy's campaign posters have frequently been daubed with "fascist" tags and Hitler moustaches. Talk of a "Tout Sauf Sarkozy" -- Anyone But Sarkozy -- campaign to block his election has already begun.

The focus could now switch to centrist Francois Bayrou, whose third place on Sunday makes him and his voters key to the outcome.

"The second round will be decided within the Bayrou electorate," Christophe Barbier, editor of the L'Express news weekly, told LCI television.

"We saw Nicolas Sarkozy this evening speaking right away in terms of rallying forces. We saw him trying to counter right away any rallying around Segolene Royal."

In his first public comments Sarkozy struck a conspicuously moderate tone, portraying himself as a unifying force who would defend French interests and unite the nation around the values of authority, work, merit and his vision of national identity.

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His campaign manager, Francois Fillon, has already started reaching out to Bayrou's UDF party, saying it and Sarkozy's ruling UMP had a common political heritage.

Pollster TNS-Sofres said last week that if Sarkozy reached the second round and faced Royal, he could pick up 60 percent of far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen's first-round supporters, compared to the 22 percent who would switch allegiance to Royal.

Only 47 percent of those who planned to vote for Bayrou in the first round would be ready to back Sarkozy in the run-off, with 35 percent backing Royal, it said.

Bayrou spent much of his campaign criticizing Sarkozy, and has given his supporters no advice whom to back on May 6.

A surge by Bayrou in opinion polls in March forced Sarkozy to shore up support with a rightward lurch designed to draw voters away from Le Pen. Bayrou and Royal said Sarkozy had shamelessly adopted the far right's anti-immigrant agenda.

Many voters are still worried by Sarkozy's description of rioters in run-down neighborhoods in 2005 as "scum", a remark which deepened their fears over what law-and-order steps he would take as president.

Royal urged voters on Sunday evening to rally to her vision of a "just order", reiterating the themes of tolerance and respect that strike a chord with voters worried by Sarkozy's clear ambition.

Her more gentle style contrasts with Sarkozy's often combative approach. Commentators say he will need to control his natural aggressiveness during the televised debate with Royal which will be the highlight of the second-round campaign.

Voters are also sure to be considering style as well as substance as the second round nears.

"If the French want to be mothered, then they will vote for Segolene Royal. If they want to be governed, they will vote for Sarkozy," a senior aide told Reuters months ahead of the poll.