In polls, the AfD is on par with the CDU/CSU and far ahead of the SPD. SPD leader Lars Klingbeil claims to have identified one reason for this success: the AfD is benefiting from bad moods and polarization.

SPD leader Lars Klingbeil has called for a more positive attitude in Germany."We sometimes talk ourselves down," the vice chancellor said at a public meeting in his Lower Saxony constituency."And the AfD is riding on this bad mood. The AfD thrives on this polarization and on people's dissatisfaction."

He hopes for a change of perspective and for society to move beyond the "everything is always critical" mode, Klingbeil said. Of course, the government has to do its job, not argue or publicly stage itself against each other."But sometimes I would also like to see society deal with itself a little differently, and that can also help to shrink the AfD," he said.

In the current"Sunday Trend" in "Bild am Sonntag," the AfD remains unchanged at 25 percent. This puts it on par with the CDU/CSU and well ahead of the SPD at 14 percent. The coalition government's current coalition government has fallen to a record low. The Greens are at 12 percent, and the Left Party at 11 percent. The BSW and the FDP remain without representation in the Bundestag, with 4 percent, and the FDP at 3 percent. Other parties account for 6 percent.

dpa/AFP/gub