"Socialist" means communism in the USA. It's not the same in Europe. Here, socialists support capitalism, market economy and democracy. They just want to put more government control on some sectors of the economy than american democrats do. In the case of these elections, Segolene Royal is not planning to do any additional nationalisations; on the other hand, a victory of her would make definitive the recent change in orientation of the socialists, which, not bound anymore by alliances with the communists, are able to implement less leftist policies. BTW, Sarkozy's and Royal's programs must look exactly the same from the perspective of an American - they already have a lot in common from the french point of view, especially since Royal is on the right-wing within the socialist party.

These election really are about the candidates personalities more than about their programs (even though there are some differences in their programs).
Either you don't know what communism is, you don't know what socialism is, or you don't know what France is altogether. Whichever case it is, you should try to educate yourself before you make such comments.

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Client: In six days, do you hear me, six days, God made the world. And you are not bloody well capable of making me a pair of trousers in three months!
Tailor: But my dear Sir, my dear Sir, look at the world, and look at my trousers.
(Beckett)