Germany's socialist Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder made a point of attacking America in order to garner votes, and it worked for him. The lesson has not been lost on Ségolène Royal, French socialist candidate for President of France. From Ariane Bernard in the New York Times:

Ségolène Royal, the Socialist candidate in the French presidential election on May 6, accused Nicolas Sarkozy, her conservative opponent, on Wednesday of having "apologized" to President Bush for France's decision not to back the United States militarily in Iraq.

Mr. Sarkozy's campaign team called her words "lies."

"I am not for a Europe that aligns with the U.S.," Ms. Royal said on France 2 television. "I have never been, and will never, go apologize to President Bush for the position of France on the issue of refusing to send our troops to Iraq."