Only Margin Is in Question in Russian Vote

Kasparov, while welcoming any consolidation of opposition forces, has recognized the overall weakness of his position, and that of his allies.

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"Materially, we are now the weaker side; we cannot dictate our game," he said. "And the rule I've learned all my life is that if your position is weaker, you must await the active moves of your opponent."

A clear majority of Russians credit Putin with overseeing a period of stability and increasing prosperity during his two terms, according to opinion polls. But the opposition says the push to convert the president's popularity into a crushing parliamentary majority is suffocating political life.

And some politicians fear that the parliamentary campaign that has just ended is a grim harbinger of the tenor of the coming presidential campaign.

Regional governors, most of whom are leading local United Russia lists, have used their powers, including control of the police, to stymie the campaigns of other parties, according to opposition parties and independent observers. And across Russia, employees and students at state enterprises and institutions have complained about being strong-armed into voting for United Russia.

More than any affection for the Kremlin, Russia's regional governors have been motivated by a fear of the consequences of failure, according to the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta. Regional governors are no longer elected by the people but are appointed by Putin, who abolished gubernatorial elections.

"For them, to ensure a decent turnout and the necessary percentage of the right vote is not a referendum for or against the president but a question of either signing their own prison sentence or being able to continue to live peacefully and remain governor," the newspaper wrote.

Said Valentina Matviyenko, the governor of St. Petersburg and a leading figure in United Russia, "I have no worries about tomorrow's victory."