Presidential candidate Barack Obama is traveling to Berlin to deliver a public speech on transatlantic ties, which is expected to attract a large audience. He is highly popular in Germany and will also meet Chancellor Angela Merkel for the first time, despite her initial opposition to his plan to speak at the Brandenburg Gate. Instead, Obama will give his speech at the "Victory Column" in Berlin's Tiergarten park, near the Gate. Obama hopes his speech will emphasize the importance of the relationship between the United States and Europe and how it should be strengthened. During Gerhard Schroeder's time as Chancellor, relations between the United States and Germany were at a post-war low due to his strong opposition to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. However, Angela Merkel, who grew up in East Germany, has made significant efforts to mend the relationship and has become one of President George W. Bush's closest allies in Europe. Merkel stated that she anticipated discussing NATO cooperation, climate change, and trade issues with Senator Barack Obama during their meeting at the Chancellery, which is expected to last about an hour. They are also likely to touch on Afghanistan and Iraq, where Obama began his Middle East and European tour. Obama expressed concern about the precarious and urgent situation in Afghanistan during his visit to Kabul on Sunday. Limits have been expressed by both Angela Merkel and her Republican opponent John McCain regarding Europe's role in a conflict. Merkel stated that she will inform Obama of Germany's limitations during his visit. The debate over whether Obama should speak at the Brandenburg Gate has caused tension between Merkel and her foreign minister. Merkel believes the landmark is meant for presidents, not candidates, to address. Despite being compared to Reagan and Kennedy, Obama humbly stated that he is just a citizen. He stated that Berlin represents the success of the post-war efforts to unite the continent and the West. Approximately 700 policemen will be present during the visit, and barriers have been erected around the "Siegessaeule", a 230-foot-high column commemorating Prussian military victories. Crowd estimates range from 10,000 to nearly a million. The speech will be broadcast live on German public television station ARD. According to a Pew Research Center poll, Germans preferred Obama over McCain by a 49-point margin. The prominent weekly magazine Der Spiegel focused its weekend edition on the visit, featuring a photo of Obama on the front cover with the headline "Germany meets the Superstar".