Her political history is that of a typical French socialist of her generation: a technocrat, educated at l'ENA, a junior advisor to President Mitterrand at the Elysee, a junior minister in three socialist governments, a member of Parliament elected in a semi-rural area, little versed in world or even European affairs.

What is remarkable about Segolene's performance is that she has managed to erase all that from people's memories. At a time when democratic fatigue has settled in France and when traditional political leaders have proved incapable of understanding people's anxieties about globalization, she looks fresh, dresses in white, and promises, with a radiant smile, that she has answers to people's problems.

It works, at least for those who traditionally belong to the left or have become weary of Sarkozy's nervous tilts for more law and order. Segolene has another asset: Though her political culture may be dyed-in-the-wool French socialism (i.e. not social democracy), her own instincts and values are intrinsically conservative -- order, as long as it is "just", family, education, and respect.

She adheres to the contradictions of the French psyche -- we like to think of ourselves as permanent revolutionaries, but, in fact, we hate all kinds of change.

Finally, she is a woman, beautiful, mother of four, who photographs well and dresses better than she used to. The looks are right. Now that the real contest begins, the sounds will matter more.