MOSCOW -- He answered pleas from workers in beleaguered one-factory towns and retirees anxious about pensions. But it was Vladimir V. Putin's response to a question about his political future that drew the most attention on Thursday at a lengthy public forum. Would he run for president again in 2012? "I'll think about it," Mr. Putin said. Mr. Putin, the former president and current prime minister, certainly did not act like a man in the twilight of his political career. He offered a virtuoso performance at his annual question-and-answer session, seeking to showcase his status as Russia's dominant leader and his concern for the average Russian. Mr. Putin, 57, recited statistics and other...

Putin Is Coy on a Run in 2012 published by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette