German conservative leadership candidate Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, a close ally of Angela Merkel, is the favorite to succeed the German chancellor as head of the Christian Democrats, according to a new poll.

A survey by broadcaster ZDF published Friday found that 38 percent of CDU voters are in favor of Kramp-Karrenbauer, currently the party’s secretary-general, taking over the party leadership — an increase of 3 percentage points since the last poll two weeks ago.

That puts her ahead of fellow challenger Friedrich Merz, who received 29 percent support — a drop of 4 percentage points — and Health Minister Jens Spahn, who is polling at 6 percent. Some 12 percent of respondents said they “don’t care.”

Survey respondents who support the CDU also found Kramp-Karrenbauer to be the most “credible” and “sympathetic,” and polled highest in the category “represents the interests of the everyday citizen.”

Merkel announced in October she would stand down as CDU leader, after the party suffered heavy losses in a regional election in the state of Hesse. She has said she plans to remain chancellor until 2021, but will not run for the CDU leadership post at a party convention in December.

Kramp-Karrenbauer is seen as the continuity candidate and someone who is likely to keep the CDU on a centrist course. Spahn and Merz, who is a former leader of the conservative bloc in the Bundestag, are seen as leaning more to the right.

Some 1,001 delegates will make the final decision at a party congress on December 7.