Moscow votes in pivotal mayoral race

MOSCOW — Two exit polls in Moscow's mayoral election are predicting a stronger showing than expected for opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The exit polls by pollsters FOM and VTsIOM, which are both seen as favoring Kremlin candidates, put the Kremlin-backed incumbent in the lead with about 53 percent.

But FOM predicts 29 percent for Navalny, while VTsIOM shows him even higher, at 32 percent.

yesterday's mayoral election is a potentially pivotal contest that has energized the small opposition in ways that could pose a risk to the Kremlin in the days and years ahead.