German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is at loggerheads with Angela Merkel, his challenger in an early general election, over how many televised debates the two should hold before the vote due on September 18.
Schroeder, whose media skills allowed him to profit from the format in the run-up to the last election, wants two contests, but Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) threaten to scupper all debates if the Chancellor does not agree to just one.
"It's down to Mr. Schroeder whether there's any duel at all," CDU spokesman Willi Hausmann told Bild am Sonntag newspaper on Sunday. "Two duels are non-negotiable for us."
Some Merkel allies are concerned Schroeder could use a televised showdown to eat into the big poll lead of their candidate, a former scientist who has been criticised frequently for her appearance and awkwardness in front of cameras.
According to her spokeswoman Eva Christiansen, Merkel's busy schedule only permits one appearance, but Schroeder insisted at the weekend that there would be plenty of time for two.
A recent survey of 1,001 Germans by pollster Forsa for n-tv television showed that 62 percent expected Schroeder to come out on top in a TV debate, with only one in four backing Merkel.
Polls in 2002 showed the Chancellor narrowly lost the first head-to-head with previous challenger Edmund Stoiber, but that he soundly beat the Bavarian state premier in the second debate.
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