Sarkozy Now Desperate. Will Say Anything

There was more stunning news to come. On French television, Sarkozy categorically denied having said the words "real work". He denied the facts for 24 long hours. Then, on national radio, contrite and charming, he finally admitted to having said those words because "for a rally, they sounded really good". Asked to comment on Sarkozy's "temporary amnesia", as polite French journalists called the episode, his socialist rival François Hollande replied: "All I know is that he's the president of 'real unemployment'!" The pique proved too tempting. MORE