Russia's 2012 presidential race appears to be over before it even began. Ending speculation over who would run for the top job in presidential elections on Mar. 4, 2012, President Dmitry Medvedev said last weekend that the ruling United Russia party should back Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who served two terms to 2008 but was barred by the constitution from running for a third consecutive term.The plan is for the two men to swap jobs: Medvedev said he would be happy to replace Putin as prime minister in a new government, and accepted Putin's offer to lead the United Russia list in December elections to the Duma, or lower house of parliament. Dispelling any remaining doubts about the "tandem" - the word used to describe the relationship and division of power between the two - Medvedev said the power shift was agreed several years ago and apologized for allowing the intrigue to go on for so long.
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