The poll for public broadcaster ARD said 33 percent of those surveyed support Steinmeier as a chancellor candidate against current Chancellor Angela Merkel, the leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union. Meanwhile two other SPD members, party leader Kurt Beck and Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück earned a collective support for a chancellor bid of only 17 percent – though 30 percent of poll participants said they found none of the three SPD choices adequate.
The poll, conducted by institute for market and political research DIMAP, reported that participants who are SPD partisans gave Beck a 34 percent approval rating for the position. Steinmeier came second with 31 percent, and Steinbrück 18 percent. Some 16 percent of those questioned said they none of these candidates had a good chance for succeeding in the race.