MOSCOW, October 29, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning what population groups "Unified Russia" represents, according to our compatriots; why this party was been winning elections for the last few years; who the Russians forecast will win in the nearest elections to the State Duma and with what party they associate the attainments of the last few years.

"Unified Russia" represents the interests of all Russian population, as 25% of Russians consider. 22% of respondents believe that this party protects the concerns of state officials, 21% that it is mainly preoccupied with V. Putin's personal interests, 16% of respondents think that it cares for large business, 12% mention middle class, 10% common people: employees, workers, workers of the village. The higher the respondents estimate their own financial standing, the more popular with them is the opinion that this party defends the interests of all population as a whole (from 21% in the group with low estimation of own financial standing up to 26% in the group with a high estimation of the same factor), and also those of the youth (4% and 11% respectively). And the less often the party is perceived as expressing the interests of bureaucracy (28% and 14%) and large business (21% and 13%).

Over one half of respondents (60%) associate the victories of "Unified Russia" in the elections of different levels during the last years with the fact that this party enjoys V. Putin's support. 25% of respondents explain its electoral successes by the party's real deeds; 21% see the party's financial abilities and political technologies as the reasons for its success; 19% consider the main reason to be the party's program. Respondents with a high estimation of own financial standing lay the emphasis on the real deeds (30%, cf.: 20% in the group with low own estimation of the same factor) and the party's convincing program (25% and 17%), they less often mention V. Putin's support (56% and 63% respectively) and the party's financial abilities (16% and 25%).

Two thirds of respondents (69%) predict, that "Unified Russia" will receive the majority of vote at the elections on December 2nd, 2007. Another 18% also predict Unified Russia's victory, but with a small margin. Very few respondents expect, that "Unified Russia" will give up the first place in favour of some other party (2%) or that it will fail to overcome the 7% barrier (1%). The party's supporters are the ones who most of all believe in its convincing victory (75%), however, among the voters of other leading parties such forecast dominates as well: 61-64% of the electorates of "Fair Russia " and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation think so, whereas 47% of respondents supporting LDPR do.

40% of respondents associate the attainments that the country managed to achieve in the last years with "Unified Russia" (among its supporters 57% do), no more than 1-2% of respondents associate the progress with any other party. A quarter of respondents (26%) do not connect the country's successes with any political party, and 31% find it difficult to provide an estimation on the issue.

"Unified Russia" can ensure the continuity of the political course set by V. Putin, as 51% of respondents identify (among its supporters 64% think so). No more than 1% of respondents mention another party in this respect. 16% do not see any party on the political arena, capable to cope with this task, and 31% find it difficult to provide an estimation.

It is interesting to note, that the supporters of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, LDPR and "Fair Russia" when asked this question concerning the country's achievements and the maintenance of the continuity of the course, put "Unified Russia" on the first place, and their own party on the second.

The initiative All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on October 13-14, 2007. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.