Her center-right Christian Democratic Union faces a tough battle to extend its hold on Lower Saxony state, with the poll seen as a strong market for her being re-elected for a third term as Chancellor later this year. Merkel's rival for the general election in September is Peer Stainbruk, a social democratic politician. According to the latest polls, Merkel received support from majority of voters, but she will face a lot of challenges in her election campaign as the German economy and Europe are severely affected by the public debt crisis. However, observers said Merkel is able to maintain her high popularity  high and her party ahead in polls.