German election tight; Merkel's bloc eyes worst result yet

Germany's centre-left Social Democrats were locked in a very close race Sunday with outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right bloc, which was heading toward its worst-ever result in the country's parliamentary election, projections showed.

Top officials from both parties said they hope to lead Germany's next government and have their candidates succeed Merkel, who has been in power since 2005.

Projections from ARD public television, based on exit polls and early counting, put voters' support at 25.5% for the Social Democrats, whose candidate for chancellor is outgoing Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and 24.5% for Merkel's Union bloc under would-be successor Armin Laschet, governor of Germany's most populous state.

Separate projections for ZDF public television had the Social Democrats ahead by 25.7% to 24.6%. Both put the environmentalist Greens in third place with about 14% support.

Those results would be the worst for the Union bloc in post-World War II Germany.