"We all knew Dmitry Medvedev would romp home to victory against the three non-competitors he's been lined up against. Essentially this election has been characterised by a complete lack of choice. Posted on 03/02/2008 11:19:04 AM PST by jdm
Vladimir Putin's chosen successor Dmitry Medvedev is set for a landslide victory in Russia's presidential election, according to an exit poll and early results.
First official results from the Central Election Commission showed Mr Medvedev was leading with more than 64% of the votes after ballots from 16% of polling stations had been counted.
Sky's Moscow correspondent Alex Rossi said: "As election dramas go, this was never going to be nail-biting - it was not going to be a cliff-hanger.
"We all knew Dmitry Medvedev would romp home to victory against the three non-competitors he's been lined up against. Essentially this election has been characterised by a complete lack of choice.
"Mr Medvedev has had the state machinery behind him all the way."
The state-owned All-Russia Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM) said he led the field with 70.1%.
The VTsIOM's poll showed Communist Party chief Gennady Zyuganov trailing with 16.8% followed by ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky with 11.4%.
The little-known Andrei Bogdanov won 1.7% of the vote, it said.
Two candidates alleged election violations moments after polls closed, the ITAR-Tass and Interfax news agencies reported.
Mr Zyuganov said he had a list of 200 alleged vote violations and condemned the poll as "cynical".
Mr Zhirinovsky said he would challenge official vote results in court, the reports said.
The victory will most likely allow Mr Putin to retain a measure of power in a nation whose wealth and global voice have grown - while democratic freedoms have diminished - during his eight years in office.
Mr Medvedev is expected to formally take over as president in May, and Mr Putin has agreed to be his prime minister.
A “victory” like this is about as significant as beating yourself at checkers.
Dance puppet, dance.
Is he gonna give up his Radio Show I had no idea he was Russian
‘King me’.
What’s his name again?
A big Gomer, “Surprise, surprise, surprise.”
I was wondering as I came to your post: could Michael Medved’s family have shortened their name, and could this Medvedev be a relative?
You knew that going happen LOL!
Wow, Medvedev wins in a landslide, ahead of ‘sunrise in the morning’ bringin up the rear, ahead of ‘cold in the Russian winter’.
Amazing how these political upsets take place. ;)
huh. Imagine that.
This story probably was written weeks ago.
Actually....I had more in mind this kind of win is as significant as Hussein’s or Castro’s.
But......beating oneself at checkers is good, too. : )
great graphic.
kudos for the pic and the tagline.
No surprise here....
It sounds rather like our choice of candidates here. There’s no one else to vote for.
The Communist? “Nope.”
The UltraNationalist? “Nope.”
“Hmm. I guess that leaves the Russian Mafia Party. Anyway, I kind of like Putin, he reminds me of the good old days when Stalin was in charge and we ran half the world.”
Eastern Eurpoe ping
He’s practically appointed and he only gets 70% of the vote? Stalin would be ashamed.
This is a bigger fix than the 1919 Black Sox.
I wonder a) what they did to piss off the people at Tass and/or b) if there really were "two candidates."
I would believe they are real, however, did these “two candidates” sign their own death warrants?
hmmmm, seems the russians have adopted our model, 3 versions of the same train wreck, just choose your speed. The obama express or the Mccain slow tour, and that other train with the Shrill wheels.
Stalin would be proud.
Next vote will be near unanimous.
What a shame.
Georgie now can invite Dmitry Medvedev to Crawford and report to the world, “I looked into his eyes and saw his soul.”
Not really. You still actually have 3 choices. They had 1. Employees were threatened with firing for not voting for Putin’s choice. Russian bloggers are reporting that employers required employees to use camera phones to verify they voted as instructed. Russian scientists are once again being locked up if they share any research, even if it is replicating data already available on the Internet.
This doesn’t really compare.
Hardy har har.
For people that do not know political everyday in Russia, Medvedev is only candidate that have ni wish to kill Americans.
There were 4 candidates:
“I like Putin” Medvedev, “Kill US bas*ards” Zyuganov(commie),
“Kill US bas*ards NOW!” Zhirinovsky (nazi, self-hating Jew)
and
“I'm marginal statistical error” Bogdanov
SO,
If all of you would be able to vote on Russian elections, you would vote Medvedev too.
The problem is many Freepers seem to genuinely believe if only people like Kasparov were allowed on the ballot he would receive millions of votes. The truth is of course he would probably get around what Boganov wound up getting, around 1-2% max. He is considered a fringe candidate by the Russian public.
Yes. Kasparov would get 3% tops.
People in US should not fool themselves that there is any valide alternative to Putin and Medvedev. There is none. Only Commies and Nazis. So, be happy Medvedev wonn...
In short, USA is in Russia represented trough George Soros GNOs and stooges.
ALL of the “Dissidents” in Russia are on Soros payrolle, and ARE agents of George Soros.
If people in USA hates Soros, than only imagine what Russians think of him!
So when average Russian says “I hate America” that is cause he see Soros as America.
Hillary better learn his name and avoid another of her dumb blond moments.
Good going...they have really done remarkable things in the last few years. Putin deserves a lot of credit...although the neo cons, Orthodox Christian haters, and the Commies don’t think so.
Congratulations Medvedev!
Kasparov is too chummy with the communist party.
He is nothing more than a side show.
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