. >> the cdu party sank to 20.6% in north rhine-westphalia. >> the big winners were the social democrats. >> they hope it is a preview of national polls next year when they want to reject angela merkel from berlin. >> the chancellor received a big hand when she paid a visit to berlin's europa school. the students wanted to talk about opportunities for higher education and right wing extremism. they did not see much interested in germany's rapidly changing political landscape. but chancellor merkel is facing opposition to austerity. at the same time, the opposition social democrats have the wind at their back. the chancellor admits a change in course might be necessary. >> it is a matter of working with the spd and finding broad agreement on the spending plan. i will be speaking with the opposition parties. >> coming off a landslide victory, north rhine- westphalia's leader says that programs will not be cut at the expense of education and youth programs. >> we are looking at the whole picture and the best method of working together in north rhine- westphalia, all of germany, and in your.