Polls show Putin dominating Russia vote
USATODAY.com

MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin's party won more than 60% of the vote in Russia's parliamentary election Sunday, exit polls showed, following a Kremlin campaign that relied on a combination of persuasion and intimidation to ensure victory for United Russia.

The projected result is expected to allow Putin to claim he has a mandate to retain ultimate political power even after he steps down as president next year, as required by the constitution.

United Russia led the field with 61% of the vote, with the Communists — the only opposition party slated to win seats — trailing far behind with 11.5%, according to a poll conducted by the state-owned All-Russia Opinion Research Center.