Martin Schulz, Ms. Merkel's challenger, has revitalized Germany's center-left Social Democratic Party almost literally overnight. Even a few months ago, before he announced his candidacy, it was lumbering at about 20 percent approval ratings, where it had been for much of the decade. Today, it is over 30 percent — a strong showing in a fractured political landscape with an insurgent far right. In some polls, if the election were held today, Mr. Schulz would just narrowly beat Ms. Merkel.
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