Few would have thought it possible just six months ago. Chancellor Helmut Kohl was then widely mocked as the most uninspired of politicians. But here he was last week, giving a campaign speech to a shouting, stomping, standing- room-only crowd in the city of Saarbrucken. Among his most enthusiastic supporters: hundreds of young people who waved flags and sparklers as the heavyset, bespectacled Chancellor made his way through the throng of 9,000 to the podium. After Kohl spoke, a spontaneous chorus of "Helmut! Helmut!" filled the room.
As West Germany's national election campaign drew to a close this week, the )...