French retiree plagued by name

EPINAL, France, June 3 (UPI) -- A French senior citizen says she has been bombarded with requests for her opinion on French politics since her phone number appeared in a national newspaper.

Radio France Internationale reported Friday the 73-year-old woman, whose last name is Moulin, has been inundated by inquiries by journalists wanting to know what she thinks of the French presidential race since would-be Socialist candidate Francois Hollande stated, "My role at the moment is to convince Madame Dugenou."

The name literally means "Mrs. Of-the-knee," but politicians have used it as a French female version of the American "Joe Schmoe" -- or your average citizen.

Dugenou is an uncommon name, and in fact, appears in France's national telephone directory only once -- mistakenly listed as the owner of Moulin's phone number.

So, journalists wanting to know what "Mrs. Average French citizen" thinks of Hollande as a candidate have begun calling Moulin at all hours.

Moulin's political assessments appear quite simple, and she says she doesn't find Francois Hollande a convincing candidate anyway.

"For me politics is what I have in my purse. I just see if it is empty or full."