Could Schulz win? German poll offers Merkel challenger hope

Could Germany’s election deliver a surprise?
Seeking a fourth term in office, Angela Merkel is widely expected to be returned to power when the country makes its choice on September 24.
But a new opinion poll indicates that almost half of German voters are still undecided – said to be the highest share of ‘don’t knows’ this close to an election for 20 years.
That should be music to the ears of the Chancellor’s centre-left challenger Martin Schulz.
Your guide to possible coalitions in the German election https://t.co/qd5fzCUlXOpic.twitter.com/HMWnS8Wdbd
— Bloomberg (@business) 21 août 2017
Former European Parliament President Schulz’s SPD is trailing some 15 points behind Merkel’s conservatives. So the prospect of a ‘hidden vote’ could reignite his campaign.
But there is a twist in the tale… the same poll in the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper says some 45 percent of voters think victory for Merkel is already a foregone conclusion.
Disillusion with politics? Well, a record 42 parties are standing in the German election. 16 are running for the first time. #GermanyDecidespic.twitter.com/LNK51Q3Urc
— DW | Politics (@dw_politics) 22 août 2017
with Reuters