Barack Obama meets Nicolas Sarkozy as Obamania hits Paris

European "Obamania" has hit the Elysee Palace after President Nicolas Sarkozy all but endorsed the American Democratic senator in his bid for the White House. Henry Samuel in Paris and Alex Spillius in Washington President Sarkozy [right] says that Senator Obama has captured 'the hearts and minds of France and Europe' Photo: AP The staunchly pro-American French leader lavished praise on "cher Barack", whom he pointed out had also reached the top despite a foreign sounding name. Lauding the pair's "tremendous convergence of views", Mr Sarkozy said that while it was not up to the French to pick an American president, Mr Obama had captured "the hearts and minds of France and Europe". Recalling their first meeting in 2006 in Washington, when Mr Sarkozy was still interior minister, he said, "It was just us two in that office. "One... [read full story]