For the past few months, the French presidential election campaign has benefitted from ongoing media coverage.

In the first two weeks in March, the press reported daily on the number of signatures the political parties had: each one needed to secure the backing of at least 500 elected officials. Newspaper headlines carried complaints by the minor parties - Jean-Marie Le Pen first and foremost - about the sponsorship system and the harassment that some supposedly suffered at the hands of the mainstream parties, especially the Socialists.

Following the candidates' political agenda, the daily press reported on the propositions brought up at meetings which were organised throughout the country. Among these propositions were the institutional reforms and the 'VIè Republique', Jacques Chirac's backing of Nicolas Sarkozy and Sarkozy's stepping down as Minister of the Interior. Towards the end of March, Mr. Sarkozy's announcement of the creation of a Ministry of National Identity and Immigration, followed by the incidents at the Gare du Nord were heavily covered in the press. The media published almost every poll, although they did specify that they were not totally reliable. Mr. Bayrou's call for a political debate between candidates and Mrs. Royal's call for a 'useful vote' were also referred to.

The various internet blogs pointed out the haziness of the programmes proposed by the three leading candidates. Although the UMP candidate, Nicolas Sarkozy, had the majority of unfavourable comments, especially with regards to national identity, no candidate was spared. The three leaders are in pole position in terms of visibility and the comments they generate, both in media coverage and on internet blogs.

The press in the UK and the US wrote about the polls and the percentages of the candidates. In the UK, the main candidates and the main programme issues were commented on, as was the lack of reliability of the methods used by the polling companies. The high number of extremist candidates came as a bit of a shock. The United States has been keeping a close scrutiny of the campaign and the candidates. Mr. Sarkozy appears to be the best candidate for the "necessary reforms". Both the British and the American press referred to issues about institutional reforms.

This analysis by Echo Research was based on 480 articles in the daily national press online in France, the United Kingdom and the United States, and 611 commentaries on blogs dedicated to the presidential election - March 2007. www.echoresearch.com