In France, a nail-biting election as Macron’s rival surges

By JOHN LEICESTER
Associated Press

POISSY, France (AP) — For months, French President Emmanuel Macron looked certain to become the country’s first leader in 20 years to win a second term. But that scenario has blurred ahead of voting Sunday in the presidential election’s first round. Cost of living concerns have become a dominant campaign theme and could drive many voters into the arms of far-right leader Marine Le Pen. In 2017, Macron trounced Le Pen by a landslide to become France’s youngest president. Their anticipated rematch this time appears far closer. At a town west of Paris where Macron campaigned, market-goers see Le Pen as having a real chance, and some were getting ready to switch their support from him to her.