MOSCOW, December 13 (RIA Novosti) - The majority of Russians would have backed any presidential candidate endorsed by President Vladimir Putin, a national pollster said on Thursday.

On Monday Putin backed his longtime ally, First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, nominated by the ruling United Russia and other pro-Kremlin parties to run at the presidential election on March 2, 2008.

The public opinion center VTsIOM said 57% of respondents in a survey carried out on the weekend before the announcement said they would support any possible successor approved by the incumbent leader.

The pollster said the same number of respondents approved of Medvedev's candidacy for the top position.

Russia's business community welcomed the nomination of Medvedev, seen as a moderate pro-business figure in the Kremlin. However, many Western commentators said they expected Putin to remain de facto leader.

The day after his nomination, Medvedev asked Putin to stay on as prime minister after he leaves presidential office to ensure the continuity of power.

A total of 1,600 people responded to the survey in 16 regions. The statistical margin of error was not more than 3.4%.