Polls show Sarkozy closing gap with Hollande in French race

A survey by pollster BVA showed Hollande taking 52.5 percent of the vote in Sunday's final round of the presidential election, down two points from late April, with Sarkozy taking 47.5 percent, a rise of two points.

Separately, TNS-Sofres showed Hollande's score edging down 1.5 points to 53.5 percent from last week, with Sarkozy rising to 46.5 percent from 45 percent previously.

A majority in the BVA survey still thought Hollande was most convincing in the televised debate, with 40 percent believing he gained the upper hand, against 31 percent who preferred the conservative Sarkozy.

Four surveys conducted since the face-off have now shown Sarkozy gaining ground, following similar results from Harris Interactive and CSA on Thursday.

A separate poll by OpinionWay carried out half before and half after the debate showed the Socialist frontrunner's lead narrowing to five points.

Despite Sarkozy's gains, Hollande still retains a comfortable lead for Sunday's vote, with an average of recent opinion polls putting him six points ahead.

The latest polls were also conducted before centrist Francois Bayrou's declaration on Thursday that he would not back Sarkozy in the second round, leaving his supporters to make up their own minds.

Sarkozy's best hope of winning the vote hinge on his gaining support from at least 80 percent of far-rightist Marine Le Pen's voters, and around half of Bayrou's. Bayrou said on Thursday he objected to Sarkozy's recent lurch to the right, and that he himself would vote for Hollande.