Opinion polls are pointing to a first round election victory for prime minister Vladimir Putin in presidential elections March 4. Opinion polls find around 60% of those intending to vote will vote for Putin in the first round, well clear of the 50% threshold below which a second round of voting would be needed. The Levada Center - the most independent of the Russia's pollsters - announced their final pre-election poll results February 24: 66% of those who intend to vote and had made up their minds said they would vote for Putin, 15% said they would vote for Communist party leader Gennady Zyuganov, 8% for nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky, 6% for tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov and 5% for Just Russia leader Sergei Mironov.

The results mean that 42% of the entire electorate would vote for Putin. According to the Levada Center, the number of undecided voters fell from 30% to 22% over the month, with most of the drifting voters apparently opting for Putin.

The results tallied with a Public Opinion Foundation poll also announced February 24. Of those who intended to vote and who had made up their minds, 58.7% said they would vote for Putin, 16.2% for Zyuganov, 8.8% for Zhirinovsky, 8.6% for Prokhorov, and 6.1% for Mironov.

However, this does not mean that 'all is forgiven' for Putin, whose previously huge support base was seen to wobble recently. Putins February approval rating is currently at 66% vs. 82% in 2004 and 75% in 2000. His disapproval rating is 34%, which is twice that of 2000 or 2004, and discontent with the recent parliamentary election is also running high, with the Levada polls show only 47% of the electorate perceiving the recent Duma election results as reflecting reality.

Keywords: Russia, Politics - Russia News - Russia

Opinion polls are pointing to a first round election victory for prime minister Vladimir Putin in presidential elections March 4. Opinion polls find around 60% of those intending to vote will vote for Putin in the first round, well clear of the 50% threshold below which a second round of voting would be needed.

The Levada Center - the most independent of the Russia's pollsters - announced their final pre-election poll results February 24: 66% of those who intend to vote and had made up their minds said they would vote for Putin, 15% said they would vote for Communist party leader Gennady Zyuganov, 8% for nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky, 6% for tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov and 5% for Just Russia leader Sergei Mironov.

The results mean that 42% of the entire electorate would vote for Putin. According to the Levada Center, the number of undecided voters fell from 30% to 22% over the month, with most of the drifting voters apparently opting for Putin.

The results tallied with a Public Opinion Foundation poll also announced February 24. Of those who intended to vote and who had made up their minds, 58.7% said they would vote for Putin, 16.2% for Zyuganov, 8.8% for Zhirinovsky, 8.6% for Prokhorov, and 6.1% for Mironov.

However, this does not mean that 'all is forgiven' for Putin, whose previously huge support base was seen to wobble recently. Putins February approval rating is currently at 66% vs. 82% in 2004 and 75% in 2000. His disapproval rating is 34%, which is twice that of 2000 or 2004, and discontent with the recent parliamentary election is also running high, with the Levada polls show only 47% of the electorate perceiving the recent Duma election results as reflecting reality.