Russian presidential election: not quite as close

Dmitry Medvedev is probably not quite so tense as Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton these days. Results from a recent poll (January 18-21) show Putin's chosen heir with 82%, though to be fair, that is just a 73% margin over his closest rival, Gennady Zyuganov.

Just to make sure that the margin doesn't close, though, the electoral commission has disqualified the only man close to being regarded as an "opposition candidate," ex-PM Mikhail Kasyanov, who had a solid 1% in the poll (but it's a committed 1%). Also, undoubtedly, Medvedev can count on 99% turnout and 99% of the votes from Chechnya and Ingushetia, just like in the parliamentary elections. The Chechens love Vladimir Putin!