As Poll Numbers Rise, Prokhorov Again Says He'll Sell Nets If Elected

Mikhail Prokhorov again said he'll sell all his assets, presumably including the Nets, and donate almost all the proceeds to charity if elected president of Russia. Prokhorov said he'd retain $1 billion. "I’ll need something to live on," he explained.

His chances are still limited. While his poll numbers have doubled recently, he's still the favorite of only five percent of the Russian electorate. Vladimir Putin leads with 46 percent.

Prokhorov said his goal is to make the runoff. If Putin fails to get 50 percent of the vote on March 4, he will face the next highest vote-getter in a runoff on March 25. Right now, it looks like that second place finisher will be Gennady Zyuganov, head of the Communists. Meanwhile, a informal poll of latte-sippers at Koffein, a Russian coffee chain, shows Prokhorov the favorite. Communists apparently are not big latte drinkers.

• Prokhorov Plans $17 Billion Charity Giveaway If He Beats Putin - Jake Rudnitsky & Ilya Arkhipov - Business Week
• Prokhorov Winning in Coffee Chain Latte Election - Moscow Times
• Low-key Prokhorov takes to Russian stump - Will Englund - Washington Post