He ran for President of Russia

Gorbachev campaigned for the Russian presidency in 1996. Only 1% of the vote went to him. Nevertheless, he has continued to be a well-known public personality in Russia as a co-owner of the independent daily Novaya Gazeta and a participant in a number of think tanks.

After leaving government, Gorbachev rose to fame in the West and was widely praised for his contribution to the peaceful end of the Cold War. At the same time, Gorbachev had developed a bad reputation in Russia and was held responsible for the fall of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev polled at a meager 1% when he first announced his candidacy and ultimately failed to gain a higher level of support. According to opinion surveys, Gorbachev is incredibly disliked in Russia.

He was held responsible by many communists for both the Soviet Union's and the Communist Party's demise. Many proponents of market reform held him accountable for the failed changes that led to the collapse of the Russian economy.

Others were against his candidacy because they believed he would merely split the anti-communist vote (playing the role of a spoiler).