David Frum's column in the National Post today (sorry, I can't find a link) he discusses how European socialist's use anti-Americanism to hide their own failings. It was a fairly interesting article but this point jumped out at me.
...Every time his [Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder] Christian Democratic opponent Angela Merkel scores against him for economic mismanagement, he replies - as he did in last week's television debate - that to vote against him is to vote for George Bush, the war in Iraq, and the floods in New Orleans. Six weeks ago, Schroeder seemed headed for political obliteration, but since he began sounding his blame-America themes, his poll numbers have risen steadily.
The Liberals have already made it clear that in the next election they will be campaigning against America, not the Conservatives. This had made the German election a whole lot more interesting to me to see if Chancellor Schroeder can employ this strategy to hold onto power...again.
Update: I did a quick Google search and I found this article regarding the polls. It looks like the debate that Mr. Frum referenced did indeed change the momentum in the election.
...Germany's election race tightened further yesterday as Gerhard Schröder's Social Democrats pulled closer to the opposition Christian Democrats in a new opinion poll, increasing the likelihood of a "grand coalition" after Sunday's election.
The SPD scored 35 per cent in a Forsa poll, up1 point to its highest rating since Mr Schröder called for an early election in May. The CDU was stable on 42 per cent.
