Merkel leading in polls over Schulz after TV debate

Three weeks before elections, Angela Merkel appears to be heading for a possible fourth term as chancellor of Germany, with her rival Martin Schulz failing to halt her advance in a crucial televised debate.

Sunday's TV clash touted as Schulz's last chance to sway millions to his cause and halt a devastating popularity slide.

But polls following the 90-minute showdown gave Merkel, leader of the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) since 2000, a clear edge over Schulz, a former European Parliament chief and leader of the Social Democratic Union Party of Germany (SDP).

There will be no further televised debates in the run-up to the election. With millions of voters still undecided, Schulz had been looking to the debate to erode the commanding 17-percentage point lead of Merkel's CDU party and their Bavarian CSU allies ahead of the September 24 polls.

UCJ, UNILORIN.