#11 - JRL 6524
Communist Party likely to lead in State Duma elections - poll

MOSCOW. Oct 30 (Interfax) - If the Russian State Duma elections were held next Sunday, the Communist Party led by Gennady Zyuganov would collect 31% of the votes, the same amount as in September, according to a poll conducted by the Center for Studying Public Opinion among 1,600 Russians on October 25-28.

At least 28% of Russians would vote for the United Russia party, the same amount as in September, the pollsters reported.

The Union of Right Forces (SPS) led by Boris Nemtsov would collect 11% of the vote, up from 5% in September.

Support for the SPS was probably fueled by the union leaders' role in negotiators with the hostage-takers in Moscow, they noted.

The results include only those respondents who plan to vote and have already chosen a party.