The EU certainly has dropped of the radar, even as far as the AfD is concerned and the EU budget isn't really a point of much discussion and has never been one really.
The AfD is also not looking very healthy at the moment. Their actual policies won't win anyone over and their performance in legislature isn't either. Not to mention that they have massive internal issues. They are currently capturing the protest and racist vote but as the other parties adapt and the fantasy they AfD has created comes into contact with reality, they're numbers will crash.
Additionally much of the EU hasn't shown themselves from their best side in the refugee crisis, at least from a German perspective. Germany itself or Schaeuble anyway has also made it a fetish to reduce debt. Any proposals that slashes EU expenses, especially towards Eastern Europe won't get much criticism. Indeed some might very well think that this is a great idea just to remind everyone exactly what the EU has to offer and why Germany has the power it has.