Challenger seen scoring points in German duel

The debate,like much of the campaign,lacked passion and personal attacks between rivals who govern together in a “grand coalition” of right and left – the result of an indecisive 2005 election.

Steinmeier,a Social Democrat,is Merkel’s foreign minister and vice chancellor. His party,which trails badly in polls,aims to thwart Merkel’s hopes of forming a new center-right government of her Christian Democratic Union and the opposition,pro-business Free Democrats.

The mass-circulation Bild daily chose an unflattering variation on Barack Obama’s campaign slogan for its front-page headline: “Yes,we gaehn” (“Yes,we yawn.”) “This discussion was a signal that neither Merkel nor Steinmeier would have anything against the ‘grand coalition’ being continued,” it said in a commentary. It noted,however,that “underdog Steinmeier succeeded a few times in making clear that there are differences” between the two.

Eckhard Jesse,a political analyst from the Technical University of Chemnitz,said that Steinmeier did better than expected – “but that’s no surprise,” given that expectations of the challenger were low.

“It was a draw,” he told MDR Info radio. “I can’t imagine that very many voters will change their opinion because of such a well-mannered duel.” Steinmeier “did better than some had expected,” the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung commented. “But on the whole,Angela Merkel was able to use the advantage of the incumbent.” Both big parties tried to claim an advantage.

Overall election polls give Merkel’s CDU and its Bavaria-only sister,the Christian Social Union,a lead of 12 points or more over the Social Democrats. They show a majority,though not a big one,for a center-right alliance.

Merkel argued the country needs a new government to boost Europe’s biggest economy and create more jobs as Germany emerges from recession. She said tax relief would help create growth,and dismissed Steinmeier’s calls for a national minimum wage.

Steinmeier,who is campaigning for elected office for the first time,portrayed himself as a champion of “social balance” and said a shift to the right would mean a growing gap between rich and poor.

He said tax cuts aren’t feasible and defended a plan to shut down all Germany’s 17 nuclear power plants by 2021. Merkel wants to extend some plants’ lives.

The debate,shown live on four channels,attracted just short of 14.2 million viewers in Germany,a nation of 82 million.