Merkel's Christian Democrats Have Strong Showing In Germany's Regional Election

German Chancellor Angela Merkel surely was smiling today, learning the results of France's presidential election. But Merkel had an even more important reason to celebrate over the "stunning triumph", writes the LA Times, of her Christian Democrats over the ruling center-left Social Democrats in Schleswig-Holstein, home to 2.3 million voters and 400,000 dairy cows. The win gives Merkel's Christian Democrats much-needed momentum in advance of next Sunday's regional election in Germany's most populous state -- North Rhine-Westphalia, with 13 million voters. 

Germany is not worried presently about a Marine Le Pen-like, nationalist confrontation among German voters, but Merkel has been at risk to her "colorful, straight-talking, multilingual challenger Social Democrat Martin Schulz" in the Sept. 24 election where she is seeking a fourth four-year term. Merkel's Christian Democrats beat the Social Democrats in Schleswig-Holstein by a margin of 32.5% vs 27%. Next week will give Merkel a comprehensive view of where she stands, although four months is forever in today's world.