File photo of Hannelore Kraft, Social Democratic party (SPD) federal state premier of North-Rhine Westphalia, alighting from her campaign bus in her hometown Muehlheim April 14, 2012. A major German regional election in mid-May has propelled a previously low-profile local Social Democrat (SPD) leader to national prominence, causing some pundits to tout her as a potential rival to conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel. Polls indicate Hannelore Kraft, 50, a tram worker's daughter with a ready smile and common touch, will win the closely-watched May 13 vote in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and be re-elected premier of Germany's most populous state. TO GO WITH STORY GERMANY-ELECTION/SPD REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/Files (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS BUSINESS)