Angela Merkel Party Wins Big In Last State Poll Before General Election

The CDU under new party chief Armin Laschet won around 37 percent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, partial results showed, well ahead of the second place far-right party AfD on 21 percent.

Angela Merkel's CDU party scored a convincing win on Sunday in the final regional vote before the first general election in 16 years not to feature the veteran chancellor, giving a major boost to her conservative would-be successor. The CDU under new party chief Armin Laschet won around 37 percent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, partial results showed, well ahead of the second place far-right party AfD on 21 percent. "This is essentially a sensationally good result," CDU general secretary Paul Ziemiak said.  "The CDU has won this election clearly."