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Poll: Obama Most Admired Man By Far

by Blue Crush | December 28, 2008 at 05:07 pm

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For the first time in more than 50 years, a US Present-elect topped the USA TODAY/Gallup Poll's list of most admired men living in the world today.

Incoming president Barack Obama is the man Americans admired the most in the world, hands down, according to the new USA Today/ Gallup Poll survey. Nearly one out of three (32 percent) Americans named Obama as their top pick, way ahead of distant No. 2 selection President George W. Bush, who had only five percent.
Former Republican presidential nominee John McCain held the No. 3 spot with three percent, and Pope Benedict XVI, the Rev. Billy Graham, and former President Bill Clinton tied for the fourth slot with two percent, according to the annual list of Most Admired Man.

Hillary Clinton leads the list of most admired woman, a spot she's had for 13 of the past 16 years. Alaskan Govenor Sarah Palin, was second, Oprah Winfrey third, Condoleezza Rice fourth, and Michelle Obama fifth.

The findings, a snapshot of public opinion at the end of a tumultuous year, reflect soaring expectations for an incoming president who will take over daunting economic challenges on Jan. 20.
"Things are down so much at the end of 2008 and the end of Bush's administration … and Obama represents a new beginning and some hope and anticipation that things can get better," says James McPherson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and editor of 'To the Best of My Ability:' The American Presidents.

"This could be a "two-edged sword," McPherson adds. "High hopes are bound to be disappointed in some degree," he says, "but it also gives him a honeymoon period which is one of real opportunity for him to try to get things done because he'll have a lot of support and a lot of goodwill."

Americans’ high level of respect for Obama is comparable, but not as high as President George W. Bush’s 39 percent following the 9/11 attacks. At that time, Bush’s job approval rating was at a high 86 percent.
Besides the honor of being America’s most admired man in 2008, Obama will also hold the honor of being the first U.S. president to be presented a Bible by the American Bible Society during his inauguration next month.

Other U.S. presidents have been presented an ABS Bible, but none have had the Bible presented to them during their inauguration.

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Pythiian1

at 18:52 on December 28th, 2008

Nice piece, Blue Crush.

I'm quite surprised that Alaska's Governor ranks higher than Oprah Winfrey, Condoleezza Rice, and Michelle Obama. It's not personal, but the Governor is anathema to most women regardless of ages, although most of the men seem to like her a great deal.