Her Christian Democrat campaign team spokesman greeted her as “the most powerful woman in the world”, and as a black-trouser-suited Angela Merkel bestrode the ornate Kaiser Wilhelm-era hall in Bad Kreuznach’s premier spa hotel, the more than 800 party faithful present seemed to be falling over themselves to applaud this verbal accolade.

Loudspeakers pumped out a rhythmic “welcome” rock tune as the mostly elderly Merkel fans stood up in unison, hauled out their smartphones and snapped hundreds of “I saw Angie in the flesh” photos of the Chancellor. “She’s wonderful. It’s such a pleasure to see her here,” former maths teacher Gisela Hahn-Schmidt, 66, told The Independent. “Frau Merkel is having a tough time at the moment, so she needs our support more than ever.”

Germany’s first female leader was in the well-to-do health resort town to campaign for her ruling Christian Democrats. The party faces a crucial test in just over a week’s time in three state elections which may well determine how long Ms Merkel can survive in power.

All three polls in the western states of Baden Württemberg, Rhineland Palatinate and eastern Saxony Ahhalt have, for weeks, been dominated by Ms Merkel’s eternally controversial “open door” refugee policy which allowed more than a million migrants to enter Germany last year and shows little sign of slowing.

Despite the continuing respect Ms Merkel receives as a proven “world leader” and her “We can do it” mantra concerning the refugee crisis, voters including many in her own party seem poised to punish her for apparently thinking too much about the world and not enough about Germany.

Refugees settle in Germany Show all 12 1 /12 Refugees settle in Germany Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat, a refugee from Syria, plays with his daughter Ranim, who is nearly 3, in the one room they and Mohamed's wife Laloosh call home at an asylum-seekers' shelter in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The Zayats arrived approximately two months ago after trekking through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans and are now waiting for local authorities to process their asylum application, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany A refugee child Amnat Musayeva points to a star with her photo and name that decorates the door to her classroom as teacher Martina Fischer looks on at the local kindergarten Amnat and her siblings attend on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The children live with their family at an asylum-seekers' shelter in nearby Vossberg village and are waiting for local authorities to process their asylum applications. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Kurdish Syrian asylum-applicant Mohamed Ali Hussein (R), 19, and fellow applicant Autur, from Latvia, load benches onto a truckbed while performing community service, for which they receive a small allowance, in Wilhelmsaue village on October 9, 2015 near Letschin, Germany. Mohamed and Autur live at an asylum-applicants' shelter in nearby Vossberg village. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Ali Hussein ((L), 19, and his cousin Sinjar Hussein, 34, sweep leaves at a cemetery in Gieshof village, for which they receive a small allowance, near Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat, a refugee from Syria, looks among donated clothing in the basement of the asylum-seekers' shelter that is home to Mohamed, his wife Laloosh and their daughter Ranim as residents' laundry dries behind in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The Zayats arrived approximately two months ago after trekking through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans and are now waiting for local authorities to process their asylum application, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Asya Sugaipova (L), Mohza Mukayeva and Khadra Zhukova prepare food in the communal kitchen at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is their home in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Efrah Abdullahi Ahmed looks down from the communal kitchen window at her daughter Sumaya, 10, who had just returned from school, at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is their home in Vossberg Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Asylum-applicants, including Syrians Mohamed Ali Hussein (C-R, in black jacket) and Fadi Almasalmeh (C), return from grocery shopping with other refugees to the asylum-applicants' shelter that is their home in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat (2nd from L), a refugee from Syria, smokes a cigarette after shopping for groceries with his daughter Ranim, who is nearly 3, and fellow-Syrian refugees Mohamed Ali Hussein (C) and Fadi Almasalmeh (L) at a local supermarket on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. All of them live at an asylum-seekers' shelter in nearby Vossberg village and are waiting for local authorities to process their asylum applications, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Kurdish Syrian refugees Leila, 9, carries her sister Avin, 1, in the backyard at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is home to them and their family in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Somali refugees and husband and wife Said Ahmed Gure (R) and Ayaan Gure pose with their infant son Muzammili, who was born in Germany, in the room they share at an asylum-seekers' shelter in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity, and are waiting for authorities to process their application for asylum 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany German Chancellor Angela Merkel pauses for a selfie with a refugee after she visited the AWO Refugium Askanierring shelter for refugees in Berlin Getty Images

The elections are certain to benefit the recently formed, xenophobic and populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. which is on course to secure the biggest political gains by a far-right organisation since 1945. It recently advocated shooting illegal refugees at Germany’s borders and could win up to 20 per cent of the vote in the east.

Current opinion polls show that more than 80 per cent of Germans think Ms Merkel’s government has “lost control” of the refugee crisis. And, as neighbouring Austria and the Balkan countries close their borders to refugees, there is a growing chorus of German conservatives who want to do the same. Yet Ms Merkel went on national television last week to insist that she was not for turning.

Anti-Merkel sentiment was palpable in Bad Kreuznach as soon as the Chancellor broached the subject of refugees. “We want to tangibly reduce the numbers entering. The question is, how are we going to do this on a sustainable basis?” she asked her supporters. “We have to deal with the cause of what makes refugees flee!” was her answer, to feeble applause.

Ms Merkel set out how her government hopes to use Monday’s EU-Turkey summit to enlist Ankara’s help to hold back the refugee tide in return for billions in EU cash. But for many of her supporters, that would be too little too late. “Merkel has gone too far with the refugees, she has bitten off more than we can chew and frankly I fear for Germany’s future,” said Bernd Kassmann, a retired shop owner in his 70s. “I’m not voting for her again. I may even vote for the AfD. At least they have a clear view on the refugee problem.

Conditions deteriorate amid chaos at Greek refugee camp

The Christian Democrats are said to be losing up to 3,200 members a month because of dissatisfaction over the refugee issue. Dozens of local party officials, whose towns and villages have had to cope with a large migrant influx, have deluged Ms Merkel with protest letters.

In the Rhineland Palatinate and Baden-Wurttemberg, the party’s state branches were reportedly reluctant for Ms Merkel to campaign because her stance might deter voters. At several rallies, angry opponents have chanted “Merkel must go”. In eastern Germany, where the xenophobic AfD is strongest, she has only one appearance booked.

More embarrassing was Ms Merkel’s encounter with Julia Klöckner, her party’s leader in Rhineland Pfalz - a protégé of the Chancellor who has been tipped as a possible Merkel successor. Only 10 days ago she directly challenged Ms Merkel by insisting that German border closures should not be ruled out. This week, with Ms Merkel standing beside her, she carefully avoided the issue.

One key to Ms Merkel’s future is held by her staunch critic, Horst Seehofer, who is both Prime Minister of Bavaria and head of the state’s conservative Christian Social Union party, a key member of Germany’s ruling coalition in Berlin. Mr Seehofer sees conservative support evaporating and wants Germany to close its border if necessary.