(VOVworld) – The French presidential race is tightening as the leading candidates are strengthening their campaigns in the Southern region in France.

Emmanuel Macron in a campaign in Saint-Denis on March 25 (Photo: AFP/ VNA)

The latest poll showed that in the first round of voting scheduled to be held on April 23, the vote for centrist and self-declared 'reformist' Emmanuel Macron and nationalist Marine Le Pen each is likely to slip one point to 25 and 24 percent respectively. Meanwhile, the scandal-plagued conservative candidate Francois Fillon gained two points to 19 percent and the far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon is up one point to 15 percent. According to the poll, with 38 percent of voters still undecided, the race remains fluid.

Macron has solidified his base of support, with 63 percent of his backers now saying they are committed to voting for him. That represents an 8-percent increase over the past week, and his highest score ever since he began campaigning in earnest in February.