France's Royal chases first-woman-president dream

Segolene Royal began her campaign to become France’s first woman president in style, decisively beating two rivals to wrap up the nomination for the main opposition Socialist Party in a single round of voting.

Last night’s victory, which party officials announced with about 40% of votes counted, spared Royal, 53, a second round against her two rivals from the party’s old guard, former prime minister Laurent Fabius and ex-finance minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn.