Poll: Germans Prefer Schröder Again

Most Germans would reelect Social Democratic Chancellor Gerhard Schröder rather than his Christian Democratic rival Angela Merkel, a poll revealed Wednesday. The weekly survey, carried out by pollsters Forsa, showed Schröder ahead of Merkel for the first time since November 2003. Of the 2,509 Germans interviewed, 34 percent said they would vote for Schröder in a direct election, while 33 percent favored Merkel. The remaining 33 percent said they wouldn't vote for either of the politicians. But respondents remained less enthusiastic about Schröder's party, which only 27 percent said they supported. Eleven percent backed the Greens, the Social Democrats' ruling coalition partners. Merkel's opposition CDU/CSU received 47 percent.