Poll Finds Obama Is the Most Admired Man

First he wins the presidency of the U.S., then he wins Time’s Man of the Year. Now a poll shows that Barack Obama holds a sizable lead among Americans as the most admired man in the world. Coming second was George W. Bush and third was John McCain, proving once again the horrible imagination Americans have when finding inspiration outside politics.

The Guardian:

President-elect Barack Obama is the man Americans say they admire most in the world, according to a USA Today/Gallup poll published today.

32% of those questioned said Obama was the man they most admired compared with 5% for President George W Bush who came in second. Defeated Republican presidential candidate John McCain came in third with 3%.

Hillary Clinton leads the list of most admired women with 20%, according to the poll. She has held this spot for 13 of the past 16 years, as first lady, then New York senator and now Obama’s choice to be secretary of state.

Alaska governor Sarah Palin, unknown in much of the US until she became the Republican party’s vice presidential candidate in the November elections, was the second most admired woman with 11%. Television talk show host Oprah Winfrey is third with 8%.

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Flickr / BohPhoto

Obama is riding a high in public confidence and popularity as he prepares to assume the presidency on Jan. 20.