A self-assured Putin seems confident of electoral victory

Vladimir Putin walks briskly to a group of factory workers, who ask him for a water treatment facility, new equipment to reduce toxic emissions and a sports arena for their children in this Ural mountains city.He promises, benevolently, to do all that and more.Putin's self-assurance and relaxed demeanor reflects the stress-free campaign he has run ahead of Sunday's election that is certain to catapult him to another six-year presidential term.The victory will put the Russian leader on track to b