The Harris interactive poll, which accurately predicted the results of the first round of voting for the president of France, announced new results on Monday in which National Front leader Marine Le Pen gained six points on En Marche candidate Emmanuel Macron. Macron had been enjoying a massive 34-point lead, 67%-33%, before the latest poll.
According to BBC News’ composite of the five most recent national polls, Macron leads Le Pen 60%-40%.
But an additional factor is in play for Le Pen; the Harris poll was conducted prior to Le Pen’s announced alliance with right-wing Debout la France candidate Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, who finished sixth in the first round but could give Le Pen a 4.7% voting bloc. That prompted division in Dupont-Aignan’s own faction; vice-president Dominique Jamet announced his withdrawal, tweeting, “Nicolas Dupont-Aignan supports Marine Le Pen. I leave Dupont-Aignan’s party.”
On Saturday, Le Pen and Dupont-Aignan released a joint statement with a modified manifesto, which included a less-strict promise implementing French membership in the EU.
Macron is polling best in western and south central France; Le Pen is strong in the northeast and along the southern coast.