Merkel's popularity highest in over 2 years

A poll shows German Chancellor Angela Merkel's popularity at its highest since her second term began in 2009, despite new turbulence in her center-right coalition. The poll for Stern magazine released Wednesday, based on a 0-100 scale of confidence, put Merkel on 64 points. That was two points higher than in December and the best since the coalition of Merkel's conservative bloc and the pro-business Free Democrats took power in October 2009. The alliance has become notorious for infighting. The Free Democrats recently forced Merkel to accept Joachim Gauck, a candidate she previously opposed, as Germany's next president. Merkel, however, has won respect for her handling of the eurozone debt crisis. The poll of 1,001 people, conducted Feb. 22-23, gave a margin of error of plus or minus 3 points.