07/07/2008 French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to welcome US presidential contender Barack Obama to the Elysee Palace on July 25, a source from the French presidency said Monday.

The Democratic White House hopeful is scheduled to pay a visit to France as part of a tour that will also take in Germany, Britain, Israel and Jordan, during which he will seek to present his credentials as a statesman.

Sarkozy met in March with Republican John McCain, who stressed that the United States must listen to its European allies.

Public opinion polls in France mirror those elsewhere in Europe to show that Obama is by far the candidate most people would like to see succeed George W. Bush in the November elections.

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