berlin german chancellor angela merkel christian democrats cdu rival social democrats spd nearly tie ahead crucial regional election state low saxony poll conduct german newspaper show monday poll hannoverschen allgemeine zeitung put cdu 33.1 percent social democrats rule state environmentalist green 32.8 percent oct. 15 election follow closely follow three weeks national elections delay federal coalition talk since party reluctant alienate core voters make compromise ahead vote poll show green third place 9.9 percent vote follow far-right alternative germany afd party 8.1 percent pro-business free democrats percent far-left leave party 5.4 percent merkel 's conservatives tie spd ahead state vote poll