by Evie Stone

From French President Nicolas Sarkozy's opening statement at today's joint presser with Barack Obama (via the Federal News Service's translator):

Of course, it's not up to the French to choose the next president of the United States of America. Whomsoever that may be, we will work with him happily and gladly. But I am especially happy to be meeting with the senator I met back in 2006 when we talked in such impassioned terms about Darfur, what was happening there. And there were two of us in that office, and there were two of us in my office. (Laughter.) And one of us became president. Well, let the other do likewise. Well, I mean, that's not meddling.

NPR's Obama campaign road warrior Don Gonyea followed up:

President Sarkozy, your opening statement sounded a great deal like an endorsement. Was it that, and if so, have you conferred with your good friend President Bush about this?

Obama responded by warning Sarkozy to "be very careful" with his answer to that question.

Sarkozy's response:

Well, sir, the Americans will choose their president, you know, not I. Americans will make the choice. And I think you're old enough to have an idea or two of your own.

This awkward exchange is a reminder of Obama's delicate task on this trip, especially in France. He's trying to paint his potential administration as one that would rebuild relationships with America's allies...but he doesn't want to look too cozy with the Frogs just yet. Don't forget the RNC's attempts to tarnish John Kerry's chances in 2004 by saying he merely looked French. As the French newspaper Le Figaro put it: "his huge popularity in our country could ill serve him with a part the American centrist electorate."