only short kids think they've won when they cheat....we all knew that by 6th grade; sadly some make a lifetime of it

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is poised to win today’s presidential election in the first round as spending pledges helped reverse a drop in popularity after disputed December parliamentary polls. 

Putin will get about 60 percent of votes, more than the 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff, surveys predict. Balloting for about 110 million voters begins at 8 a.m. March 4 seven time zones from Moscow in Russia’s Far East. Exit-poll data is due from 9 p.m. in the capital, to be followed by preliminary results. The final outcome will be released within 10 days.

Putin, 59, who first came to power in 1999 and has been premier since handing the presidency to protégé Dmitry Medvedev in 2008, has faced unprecedented protests over a parliamentary vote in December that opposition parties say was rigged in favor of his ruling United Russia party. In trips across the country, Putin vowed to raise state salaries and pensions.