"Despite many political initiatives, such as the tax concept, election program, marriage for all or debates on refugees, the SPD leader does not succeed in catching up with the chancellor," YouGov Germany political research team leader Peter Mannott said.
The poll was conducted online from July 28 to August 1 among 2,000 German citizens.
The results are similar to those of a last week Forsa's poll, giving Schulz a record low of 21 percent, with 52 percent supporting Merkel as chancellor. The support for SPD in that poll was similar to its leader's at 22 percent, while Merkel’s conservative alliance of the CDU and the Christian Social Union (CSU) enjoyed a 40-percent rating.
In late January, SPD chose Schulz, former European Parliament President, as a chancellor candidate and the party's chairman. Merkel, currently serving her third term as Chancellor, announced in November last year she would seek re-election to a fourth term.
The election to Germany's Bundestag is scheduled for September 24. Following the election, Bundestag will elect the Chancellor.
