Merkel seeks to boost Laschet in close German election race


              German Finance Minister and Social Democratic Party, SPD, candidate for chancellor Olaf Scholz arrives for  an election campaign event named: 'Future talk with employees' in Wolfsburg, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. (Julian Stratenschulte/dpa via AP)
            
              German Finance Minister and Social Democratic Party, SPD, candidate for chancellor Olaf Scholz casts his shadow on a billboard during an election campaign event named: 'Future talk with employees' in Wolfsburg, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. (Julian Stratenschulte/dpa via AP)
            
              German Chancellor Angela Merkel smiles as she visits the fishing village of Waase on the island of Ummanz, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021.  (Stefan Sauer/dpa/dpa via AP)
            
              German Chancellor Angela Merkel, center, Georg Guenther, Chairman of the Junge Union Mecklenburg-Vorpommerns and the Mayor of the municipality of Ummanz, Holger Kliewe, right, perform the symbolic ground-breaking ceremony for the extension of the cycle path in the municipality near Waase on the island of Ummanz, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021.  (Stefan Sauer/dpa via AP)