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PARIS "Oui on peut!"

The slogan on posters in Paris streets translates as "Yes We Can!"

Heard that before?

The people behind the campaign are urging former U.S President Barack Obama to join the French presidential race.

Their online petition has already attracted more than 45,000 signatures in 10 days and they hope to reach a million supporters by March 15.

With the buildup to the April-May presidential election so far dominated by the corruption investigation targeting conservative Francois Fillon, organizers say they want to inject a dose of humor in the campaign.

The whole thing started as a big joke between friends, one of the organizers told The Associated Press. He identified himself only as "Antoine," declining to give his real name because the posters have been put up illegally and he feared a fine.

Antoine, who spoke to the AP in Paris with his face covered by a cut-out mask of Obama, said that he and his friends decided on the campaign over a drink, after realizing they didn't know for whom they would vote.

Antoine said he invested 1,500 euros ($1,592) in the campaign, printing out 500 posters. The team has also had mugs and T-shirts made with the image of Obama, which they are selling on their website.

They say the profits will go to a scholarship fund for students from poor neighborhoods attending classes at Sciences Politiques, one of France's most prestigious universities.

Though widely popular in France, Obama has no chance of success. He is not French and has no right to take part in the race.

Sarah Wachter, an American who has lived in France since 1999, sees the petition as a positive sign for France.

"People want change but they want the right kind of change. Change that is inclusive, change that is human but change that is also open to the world and that is a very delicate balance to strike," she told AP. "But I think that Obama has done that in the United States."

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Petition urges Obama to run for president - of France - Scranton Times-Tribune

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Illegals Cut 9287 Holes in Obama-Era Border Fence - CNSNews.com

New York Times

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Obama Administration Rushed to Preserve Intelligence of Russian Election Hacking - New York Times

The unlikely pair have often been photographed together during formal events. When Obama embraced Bush at the opening ceremony for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture last September, the photo of their warm interaction went viral.

"She kind of likes my sense of humor. Anybody who likes my sense of humor, I immediately like," Bush said.

The pair are often seated next to each other during events, including the interfaith memorial service for the victims of the Dallas police shooting in July, last year's funeral for former first lady Nancy Reagan and the 2015 commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the historic civil rights march in Selma, Alabama.

"I can't remember where else I've sat next to her, but I probably have a few wisecracks and she seemed to like it OK," Bush said. "I needle her a little bit and around her, I'm fairly lighthearted. (The Obamas) are around serious people all the time and we just took to each other."

The rest is here:
George W. Bush explains his fondness for Michelle Obama - CNN

Former US president Barack Obama has begun settling into his civilian life, but many arent ready to let him go. The pangs of longing arent exclusive to Americans. In fact, avid Obama fans are calling for him to run for president againin France.

A French petition pleading for Obama to run for the French presidency, because he has the best CV in the world for the job, has amassed over 40,000 signatures, which is not restricted to French citizens. The campaign, named Obama 2017, has blanketed Paris with red-white-and-blue posters showing Obamas portrait and the French translation of his famous motto, Oui on peut (Yes, we can). The campaigners, who have so far remained anonymous, hope to amass one million signatures by March 15 (its unclear why they are aiming for one million).

Spearheading the operation is a group of disenfranchised voters in Paris unhappy with the current slate which includes far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. While Obama cant actually run to be Frances next presidentcandidates must be Frenchthe organizers picked him for the campaign because at a time when France is about to vote massively for the extreme right, we can still give a lesson of democracy to the planet by electing a French President, a foreigner, the petition notes.

For Obama to get on the ballot he needs not just citizenship, but signatures from 500 mayors by March 17 (there are more than 35,000 mayors across France). In 2012, Le Pen of the Front National faced an uphill battle to get the enough signatures by the deadline.

Le Pen appears to be a much stronger candidate this year; she continues to have a strong lead in the polls, ahead of independent centrist Emmanuel Macron and the center-right candidate Franois Fillon, who are second and third, respectively. The candidates have been described as lackluster against Le Pen; Macrons attempts to build support from the middle ground has drawn ire from the right and left, while a financial scandal has sunk Fillon in the polls. The French socialists have failed to inspire much support, with their candidate Benoit Hamon in fourth place in every major poll.

Le Pen, whose popular anti-immigration rhetoric aligns with Trumps rise in the US, is expected to make it to the final round of voting, but tactical voting may prevent her from winning. The presidential election consists of two rounds; if a candidate fails to win more than 50% of the vote, then the two leading candidates face off in a second round.

In 2002, Le Pens father lost the presidential election in the second round to his opponent Jacques Chiracwith a remarkable margin of 82% to 18%after the left reluctantly sided with Chirac under the slogan vote for a crook, not for a fascist. A point the Obama 2017 initiative picks up on, saying it should be possible for France to vote for a president and not against a candidate.

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There's a petition to elect Barack Obama president of France - Quartz