By Guy Faulconbridge Sun Feb 24, 6:33 AM ET

MOSCOW (Reuters) - People who know Dmitry Medvedev describe him as an intelligent and straightforward man who dislikes risk -- but does he have the political instincts to survive as Russia's next president?

He has been overwhelming favorite to win the March 2 presidential election ever since his mentor, the outgoing President Vladimir Putin, endorsed Medvedev to replace him.

Medvedev's personal qualities could suit Putin's purposes: he needs a reliable and loyal ally in the Kremlin job if he is to exert influence after his own presidential term ends.

Some ex-colleagues question though whether Medvedev has the cunning and ruthlessness to impose his own authority in the job.

"Dima is clever, clever enough to be president and he is tough, tough enough to be president," one former colleague from the 1990s told Reuters on condition his name was not published.

"But you have to have a sense, an emotional intelligence, a feeling for decisions in the Kremlin - Putin has it, (Former President Boris) Yeltsin definitely had it - does Dima? I don't know. We shall see," the former colleague said.

BUTTONED UP

If he wins the election, the 42-year-old Medvedev will become the youngest Russian leader since Russia's last emperor, Tsar Nikolai II. He will also be the first Russian leader with a background in private business.

In contrast to Putin, a former KGB spy accused of rolling back democracy, former lawyer Medvedev has stressed the importance of freedom and justice. He pleased markets by saying he wants to limit the Kremlin's role in big corporations.

But with a week to go before polling day, Medvedev's personality remains something of a mystery.

A man who himself says he is "buttoned-up" in public, the one-sided campaign has done nothing to expose his character. He declined to take part in television debates and the only one-on-one interview he gave was paid for by his campaign.

So who is Dmitry Medvedev? The most striking theme that emerged from interviews Reuters conducted with some of Medvedev's former colleagues and acquaintances is that -- at least until now -- he does not stand out from the crowd.

Mikhail Kasyanov, prime minister at a time when Medvedev worked for Putin in the Kremlin, struggled to recall anything of note about Medvedev.

"He is just a normal bureaucrat," shrugged Kasyanov, who became a fierce Kremlin opponent after he was sacked in 2004.

Even Medvedev's supporters do not have a lot to say about him. "He is a good guy, just a good guy," said one source close to the Kremlin. "He does what he says he will."

BOOKISH CHILD

Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev, born into a family of teachers, is remembered as a bookish child.

He says his favorite book was the Soviet Encyclopaedia -- similar to the Encyclopaedia Britannica -- though he also developed a taste for British rock bands Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple.

"He is very cultured, you can speak to him about the theatre, music, he has a sense of humor," said Nataliya Rasskazova, who studied with Medvedev at St Petersburg University's law faculty, where Putin also studied.

"He has not changed. I saw him a year ago and there was no arrogance, he was not high and mighty," she said.

Medvedev taught law after graduating but also went to work for Putin, who was chairman of the St Petersburg mayor's committee for external relations.

Medvedev also moved into business, a period of his life which is left out of official biographies.

He worked as a key lawyer for the Ilim Pulp paper firm, helping to found the firm, though colleagues say he was never treated as an equal by the firm's owners. It has emerged as one of Russia's leading companies in a sector worth billions of dollars.

"He got a salary and he was in real business in the 1990s. He saw the reality," said his former colleague.

His ex-colleague said Medvedev took a stance unusual for the time: he avoided paying bribes, even losing the company a court case because he refused to give money to a judge.

KREMLIN YEARS

Medvedev owes his political career to Putin. By 1999, Medvedev's old friend was prime minister and soon to replace Yeltsin as president. Putin invited Medvedev to Moscow.

He served as deputy chief of the Kremlin staff, later chief of staff, and was made chairman of state-controlled Gazprom, the world's biggest gas firm.

Investment bankers said Medvedev displayed his power in the Kremlin by pushing through a major reform of Gazprom that allowed the state to consolidate its control but at the same time opened up the firm's shares to ownership by foreigners.

Medvedev was catapulted into the presidential race late last year when Putin said he was the right man for the job. But with Putin still powerful and planning to stay on as prime minister, Medvedev's position could be precarious.

"We are seeing just a part of the plan, the first few scenes, and no one knows the ending - not even Medvedev - and he can't know because (Putin's) plans could change depending on Medvedev," his former colleague said.

"Putin trusts Medvedev, he trusts his moderate character and dislike of risk taking. That is what he needs, but how long does it last for Medvedev? How will it work?"