SAO PAULO (AP) — Five Brazilian parties have endorsed the presidential bid of former Sao Paulo Gov. Geraldo Alckmin of the right-leaning Brazilian Social Democracy Party.

Thursday's decision is a boost for a man who is struggling to top 10 percent in opinion polls ahead of the October elections.

The five parties in the "Big Center" coalition now hold 164 of 513 seats in Congress and 17 of 81 senators.

Leaders of the group say Alckmin's running mate will come from one of those parties.

Jailed former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been leading in the polls, but he is likely to be barred from running.

Former military captain Jair Bolsonaro, environmentalist Marina Silva and left-leaning Ciro Gomes also lead Alckmin in the polls.