German conservatives unite behind Merkel for September vote
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Bavarian conservative allies threw their weight Monday behind her quest for a fourth term, putting aside a long-running argument over her migrant policies as Germany prepares for a national election in September.
The show of conservative unity came as Merkel's rivals, the center-left Social Democrats, are enjoying a strong poll boost from their surprise nomination as her challenger of Martin Schulz, the former president of the European Parliament and a relatively fresh face in national politics.
Bavaria's Christian Social Union has dominated its southeastern state for decades and is traditionally an important source of national election votes for the bloc led by Merkel's Christian Democratic Union.
