German opposition wins major state vote
None
Voters in Germany's most populous state strengthened a center-left regional government which Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives sought to portray as irresponsibly spendthrift, and inflicted an embarrassingly heavy defeat Sunday on the German leader's party, projections showed.
The center-left Social Democrats and Greens (Germany's main opposition parties) won combined support of about 51% in the election in North Rhine-Westphalia state, according to ARD television based on exit polls and early counting. (AP)
