Peer Steinbrueck, the social democrat Chancellor candidate and<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F09%2F20%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Fgermany-merkel-profile%2Findex.html%3Fhpt%3Dhp_c1"> Angela Merkel</a>'s main challenger, hands out roses to well-wishers in German town of Peine on September 16, 2013.
In pictures: Peer Steinbrueck —
Peer Steinbrueck, the social democrat Chancellor candidate and Angela Merkel's main challenger, hands out roses to well-wishers in German town of Peine on September 16, 2013.
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Steinbrueck is close to former Chancellor and fellow social democrat Gerhard Schroeder. Here they are pictured talking at the state convention of the SPD in Wolfsburg.
Schroeder's ally —
Steinbrueck is close to former Chancellor and fellow social democrat Gerhard Schroeder. Here they are pictured talking at the state convention of the SPD in Wolfsburg.
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Steinbrueck served as finance minister from 2005 to 2009, in Chancellor Angela Merkel's "grand coalition" government.
With his former boss —
Steinbrueck served as finance minister from 2005 to 2009, in Chancellor Angela Merkel's "grand coalition" government.
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As finance minister of the Eurozone's largest economy, Steinbrueck was the mastermind behind Germany's bank rescue plan. Here, traders at the Frankfurt stock exchange listen to a statement by Steinbrueck during the financial crisis in October 2008.
Finance minister —
As finance minister of the Eurozone's largest economy, Steinbrueck was the mastermind behind Germany's bank rescue plan. Here, traders at the Frankfurt stock exchange listen to a statement by Steinbrueck during the financial crisis in October 2008.
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He is known as spontaneous and his election campaign wasn't without gaffes. He was photographed raising his middle finger on the cover of the Sueddeutsche Zeitung, one of the most widely-read German newspapers. While his PR team was reported to be unhappy about it, Steinbrueck himself insisted that the magazine run the photo.
Election gaffes —
He is known as spontaneous and his election campaign wasn't without gaffes. He was photographed raising his middle finger on the cover of the Sueddeutsche Zeitung, one of the most widely-read German newspapers. While his PR team was reported to be unhappy about it, Steinbrueck himself insisted that the magazine run the photo.
CHRISTIAN CHARISIUS/AFP/Getty Images
Steinbrueck's ratings have lagged far behind those of Merkel, but he still has a chance of <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2013%2F09%2F20%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Fgermany-votes-what-you-need-to-know%2Findex.html%3Fhpt%3Dhp_c1">becoming Germany's next chancellor </a>-- if he can secure strong coalition partners.
Can he make it? —
Steinbrueck's ratings have lagged far behind those of Merkel, but he still has a chance of becoming Germany's next chancellor -- if he can secure strong coalition partners.
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