With a slim lead over his Communist challenger in the futures market, President Yeltsin seems to be the beneficiary of the betting so far.

Russia's richest business leaders banded together under Anatoly B. Chubais, then a presidential adviser, to defeat a Communist challenger in the election campaign last year.

Neither Boris Yeltsin nor his Communist challenger, Gennadi Zyuganov, has won a majority.

The re-election of President Boris N. Yeltsin over his Communist challenger last year was a pivotal moment in Russia's rocky transition to democracy.

The Communist challenger has not campaigned since the first round of voting on June 16, and he apparently does not plan to travel before the July 3 runoff.

Saga: Governor Yasushi Furukawa defeats his Communist challenger to win a second term.

His slim but steady lead over his Communist challenger in the futures market has fortified the impression that his campaign has gathered momentum.

His 2002 election he won by a small margin over his Communist challenger.

October 31 - Governor Yūhei Satō of Fukushima is reelected against only one Communist challenger.

Gifu gubernatorial election: Incumbent Hajime Furuta wins reelection against only one Communist challenger.