French presidential candidates prepare for TV debate

French presidential candidates Segolene Royal and Nicolas Sarkozy will face off today in their only televised debate.

It is the last best chance for socialist Royal to make up ground on conservative front-runner Sarkozy.

Some estimates said the live debate could draw more than 20 million viewers.

The carefully-choreographed duel will be a challenge to both contenders, the last two standing after the April 22 first round.

In that vote, Mr Sarkozy won 31.2% and Ms Royal had 25.9%, with the remainder spread among 10 rival candidates across the political spectrum.

Ms Royal's bid has gathered some recent momentum.

She outdid Mr Sarkozy yesterday with a larger Paris rally than one he had over the weekend.

Also yesterday, far-right nationalist Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was placed fourth, urged his supporters to abstain on Sunday. Polls show his voters were more likely to back Mr Sarkozy than Ms Royal, and it could cut into Mr Sarkozy's support if Mr Le Pen's voters stay at home.

The challenge for Mr Sarkozy in the debate, many say, will be not to appear too macho against Ms Royal - the first woman with a clear shot at the presidency - but also not to use kid gloves against her.

Ms Royal, on the other hand, may need to come out on the offensive, to try to trip Mr Sarkozy up. Socialist Party leader Francois Hollande said Mr Sarkozy was going to try to simply get through the matchup unscathed.

He "is going to be playing for time, and playing for a 0-0 draw." Mr Hollande said on Canal Plus TV.

Mr Sarkozy, who has held a lead in the polls since January, sought to damp down speculation that the showdown could be decisive.

"I don't think the French choose a president on the lone impression that they'll have after a two-hour debate," he told France-Inter radio.

The last head-to-head presidential-race debate, pitting Jacques Chirac against Socialist Lionel Jospin in 1995, drew 17 million viewers.

Mr Chirac won the first of his two terms that year. In 2002, he refused to debate with Mr Le Pen, who stunned much of France by ousting Mr Jospin and other contenders in the first round.