Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister and presidential front-runner Dmitry Medvedev (R) and President Vladimir Putin (C) talk as they visit Moscow's satellite town of Zhukovsky, February 20, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Russia's presidential hopeful Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday that he will stick to incumbent President Vladimir Putin's set policies and move the country forward.

Medvedev made the remarks in Volga city Nizhny Novgorod in his last bid to draw votes ahead of the March 2 vote.

"We must keep the flag flying: we have a lot of unresolved problems, the country must move ahead," the first Deputy Prime Minister told local media.

"For this we need political stability, for this we must every day improve the life of people, develop the economy, safely protect Russia's sovereignty and protect the freedom of our citizens," said Medvedev who was backed by the ruling United Russia party and endorsed by Putin himself.

The former law professor and close ally of Putin called on voters to support him.

"March 2 is the day of a presidential election in Russia ... I count on your support so that we keep working together," the Itar-Tass news agency quoted him as saying.

"We know how to lead the country to success. We know how to do it. And I am confident it will be like that," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2008)