At the SPD, you can slowly chill the sparkling wine. Almost a week before the general election, Olaf Scholz is on the finish line for the Chancellery.
In the last of the three TV triumphs on Sunday evening, he kept his competitor Armin Laschet at a distance. Almost pitifully, he presented the Union candidate at the end.
Scholz confidently explained his government program. And made it clear who he had already bought for it: the green Annalena Baerbock.
Scholz has what Laschet lacks: a plan!
The SPD man and his team started the Chancellery Mission a year ago. Since then, Scholz has meticulously developed the image of the new Mr. Merkel.
Scholz denies the hot phase of the election campaign with old SPD street hits on pensions, housing and minimum wages. The messages are flat. But they get caught. Because Union competitor Laschet has next to none!
The CDU boss is strolling through the election campaign. Laschet is too passive, he only attacks Scholz half-heartedly. And so far he has not been able to set a single important topic. For a prospective chancellor a certificate of poverty!
Instead, Laschet repeatedly explains what he has tackled as the head of the NRW government. Province instead of political power! The CDU man makes Scholz even stronger.
In the TV triall on Sunday evening, Laschet looked dull. Almost as if he no longer believed in victory himself.
That is bad for Germany! Because Scholz has a plan. But one for a strong state that takes leeway instead of creating new ones. That will not bring more jobs and prosperity.
Laschet still has six days to finally present his plan for Germany to the voters. It must be the alternative to the Scholz Plan.
Hopefully Laschet will still have the power to do this.