Obama politically and physically fit: Merkel

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel is an admirer of U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama -- even though she has not yet met him in person. Asked at a news conference on Wednesday what she thought of Obama, Merkel responded: "I would say that he is well-equipped -- physically, mentally and politically." Obama is due to meet with Merkel for about an hour on Thursday morning and will later give a speech on transatlantic relations at the "Victory Column" in Berlin's Tiergarten park. Merkel objected to initial plans by the Obama campaign to hold the speech at the Brandenburg Gate. His appearance is expected to draw tens of thousands of Germans, who polls show prefer him to his Republican challenger John McCain. Since coming to power in 2005, Merkel has repaired relations with Washington damaged when her... [read full story]