PARIS - France wound up a long and rancorous presidential campaign Friday with opinion polls predicting victory for Francois Hollande, the Socialist candidate who promises economic stimulus measures to soften the austerity cutbacks imposed by President Nicolas Sarkozy during the European debt crisis.
Sarkozy, a business-oriented conservative battling for a second five-year term, told his followers in a final rally that the race was not over despite what the polls and political commentators said.
Political specialists explained that he was counting on a bloc of undecided voters - estimated at up to 10 percent of the electorate - to tip the balance in his favor at the last minute before Sunday’s runoff ballot.
Hollande, also citing the danger of the undecided vote, appealed to his backers in a broadcast interview not to become complacent.
“The polls are there, and they show a closing of the gap,’’ he said in a radio appearance. “So I say to all those who want me to be the next president, don’t let others decide in your place.’’