Some have called centrist French candidate Emmanuel Macron France’s Barack Obama. But that characterization doesn’t seem all that accurate given Macron’s lack of support among the French youth. Whereas Obama galvanized millions, perhaps slightly naïve young people to rally around the banner of Hope and Change, Macron has largely failed to capture the imagination of young voters.
At just 39, Macron would be the youngest person to ever occupy the office of the French presidency. And yet, despite his young age, polls indicate that he’s losing to rival Marine Le Pen when it comes to younger voters. Macron appears to holding a lead overall because the WWII generation fears the rise of a far-right populist leader:
Seems like Le Pen would be at roughly Trump levels of support without the WWII generation:https://t.co/6Pbq4JHPqW
— Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) May 3, 2017
In addition, Le Pen enjoys an advantage with demographic groups traditionally sympathetic to populist movements. According to the latest IFOP French poll, Le Pen wins 55% among lowest educated group:
1/ Crosstabs from latest IFOP French poll of interest. Strict education break: LePen wins 55 among lowest educated group (<baccalaureate).
— Henry Olsen (@henryolsenEPPC) May 3, 2017
However, the former National Front leader appears to be out of favor with the most educated elements of the population.
2/ and 50% among only baccalaureates. But drops to 19 and 18% among most educated.
— Henry Olsen (@henryolsenEPPC) May 3, 2017
While Le Pen has steadily gained overall support since the first-round election, the latest numbers suggest that Macron still has a major advantage over his rival less than a week before the second-round, final election.
With voters set to head to the polls on Sunday, Le Pen trails Macron by nearly 20 points. Here are The Telegraph’s latest polling averages:
