After a stop-over in Germany, democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama
is due in Paris Friday, where he is expected to meet with President Nicolas
Sarkozy. Lisa Bryant has more for VOA from the French capital.
As elsewhere in Europe,
the U.S. presidential campaign has riveted France - particularly that of
Democratic hopeful Barack Obama. Partly because French are eager for a change
from the Bush administration, which is generally unpopular here.
Senator
Obama is expected for a late afternoon talk with President Nicolas Sarkozy - who
holds the rotating European Union presidency - followed by a joint press
conference.
In Berlin Thursday, Obama held talks with German Chancellor
Angela Merkel, then spoke before tens of thousands of people in Berlin. Obama
called for strengthening transatlantic ties that have frayed in recent years,
and urged Europeans and Americans to work jointly to fight terrorism.
Here in France, many people are eagerly awaiting Obama's arrival. Paris
resident Farid Aich is one of them.
Aich says Obama has a bright future
and that he could change things in the United States if he is elected. He thinks
America needs change after eight years under President Bush.
Raphael
Bouzaglou, 32, is another Obama supporter.
Bouzaglou says if Obama is
elected, he would help improve the image of the United States in Europe.