berlin german social democrat spd leader martin schulz whose party trail chancellor angela merkel conservatives 17 point say go sunday television debate convince would win month elections least bite nervous tell bild newspaper interview conduct media report suggest predecessor leader give hope spd victory successful duel create momentum schulz say separate interview rnd network newspapers merkel 63 chancellor since 2005 widely see europe influential politician weather storm mass immigration financial political turmoil european union spd germany old party struggle promote strong rival merkel tell rheinische post newspaper expect debate spark great public interest happy many people possible take time watch tell newspaper interview publish saturday defend decision allow one two-way debate since voters germany parliamentary system pick party direct candidates district rather vote directly chancellor schulz campaign get promise start early year thousands flock party choose candidate three crush defeat hand conservatives regional elections include heartland north rhine-westphalia knock course difficult defeat spd ... nonetheless 46 percent voters yet make mind weary-looking schulz 61 say live online interview bild say would turn things around first televise debate pair ahead sept. 24 election believe certainly still win election spd stewarded europe big economy junior partner merkel conservatives last four years 22 percent opinion poll publish friday conservatives 39 percent almost half 61.5 million people eligible vote expect tune debate pollster forsa find nearly two-thirds germans expect merkel win contest 17 percent expect schulz fare good another poll show also find direct vote chancellor 49 percent germans would pick merkel see steady pair hand time global uncertainty donald trump white house britain prepare leave european union 26 percent would opt former european parliament president schulz whose campaign focus social justice struggle time germans enjoy rise wag record employment bid appeal young generation schulz tell bild big domestic policy difference merkel pension someone early 40s belong generation pay ever contributions end get low pension history pension insurance say merkel 's social democrat rival bullish ahead german tv clash