Elections coming up

[CO-OWL]

Hmmm...Half the voters could be undecided.  Wow!  Germans voters are even more volatile than those in the US, or maybe interest in the election is currently low.  Considering the economic crisis, interest should be high.

Not really...keep in mind that on "normal" turnout levels, this is unlosable for the SPD...and that there is no reason to expect anything like normalcy. The NRW SPD definitely deserves to lose. Those many undecideds are mostly SPD supporters who are unsure whether to vote something else this time, or vote SPD as usual or (and this will in the end be the most popular option) stay at home.

Agreed! Back in 2000 for various reasons SPD, CDU and Greens had big problems to mobilize their supporters. Hence turnout dropped to an all-time low of about 57%, with the FDP surging from 4% to almost 10%.
I think, this time turnout will increase due to a relatively good CDU turnout. But I would be surprised, if it exceeded the low 60es. With many SPD supporters staying home (and a few voting for left-wing minor parties) this should be sufficient for a CDU/FDP victory; thus ending 39 years of SPD rule in NRW. I'm cautiously optimistic...
However, the majority of the voters seem to trust neither party in handling unemployment, public debt, etc.  Moreover both major parties' PM candidates have problems to connect with the voters. A few weeks ago a poll gave SPD INCUMBENT Peer Steinbrück a name recognition below 50%! CDU candidate Jürgen Rüttgers, a former secretary in the Kohl government, is perceived as equally boring as far as I can tell...