For the first time Putin admits he may have a challenge.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says he could face a runoff in Russia's presidential vote in March — his first acknowledgment that he may fail to muster enough support for an outright victory.
Putin's statement Wednesday signaled that he might be willing to accept a less dominating father-of-the nation image if he fails to win more than 50 percent in the first round on March 4, rather than risk igniting more public outrage through blatant vote rigging.