France's Fillon struggles to win back voters after job scandal

Paris

CONSERVATIVE French presidential candidate Francois Fillon appealed to voters on Wednesday via a newspaper column to back his campaign, trying to claw back support after losing his place as frontrunner over accusations of fake jobs for his family.

Mr Fillon has managed to stem a rebellion within his party, partly for lack of a clear "Plan B", but plunging popularity ratings show the 62-year-old, who pegged his campaign on an image of integrity, faces an uphill battle to convince voters.

"I have nothing to hide," he said in his letter to voters. "Everything was legal. Nothing will divert me from the real aim of my presidential campaign: Set France back upright and bring the French together. It's up to you and only you to dec…