Well, Merkel didn't get 50% either.
There's no denying it: here in Germany everybody sees this as a major defeat for Merkel and a victory for Schröder, who came back from nowhere. A paradox.
The next few days will be very interesting.
Any particular reason for the last minute mo for Schröder?
My first inclination, were I Merkel, is a two fold approach:
1) See if they will join me without anything in the way of concessions, for the good of Germany, and to give the plurality of Germans their governing chance.
2) If they do not join me, I bow out with a statement that until I am able to achieve a sufficient majority, I am unwilling to take the reins of a hobbled government - that perhaps in a year or two the majority of Germans will at last decide my/our time has come - then stand back and watch the continued deterioration of Germany expressing great regret that was the choice of Shroeder and those who lent him sufficient support.