PRINCETON, N.J. (ABP) — Americans must have politics on their minds. According to a recent Gallup poll, George W. Bush is the most admired man in the world. Sen. Hilary Clinton (D-NY) is the most admired woman. And Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), an early possible contender for the presidency of the United States, appeared for the first time on the top 10 list of admired men.
Billy Graham was also named to the “most admired” list for a record 50th time. Graham has appeared on the list almost every year since its inception in 1955.
This is Bush's sixth year leading the rankings, despite job-approval ratings dipping to near 30 percent. Bush's first-place finish corresponds with a tendency for presidents to top the list — they've won the position 49 out of 60 times. This year, 13 percent of Americans chose Bush as the man living anywhere in the world they most admire, down from 19 percent in 2005 and 23 percent or higher from 2001 to 2004, according to the Gallup report.
Poll results came from phone interviews with 1,010 adults conducted Dec. 11-14. The poll was open-ended — respondents were asked to name people they admire, not to respond to a list of suggested names.
Hillary Clinton has been named most admired woman 11 times. She has placed in one of the top two spots every year since 1993. Mother Teresa beat her to No. 1 in 1995 and 1996, and Laura Bush beat her in 2001.
Twenty of the 58 most admired women have been former first ladies, and 18 have been sitting first ladies.
Obama's fourth place ranking is his first appearance ever on the list. Graham, 88, placed fifth on the 2006 list.
Former presidents and Baptists Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were second and third on the men's list. Following Graham's fifth place, Colin Powell, Pope Benedict XVI, Nelson Mandela, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Gates made the top 10.
Among women, Oprah Winfrey came in second for the fifth year in a row, followed by Condoleezza Rice and Laura Bush. Margaret Thatcher, Angelina Jolie, Nancy Pelosi, Madeleine Albright, Barbara Bush, and Maya Angelou, in order, finished the top 10.
Winfrey made the list for the 19th consecutive time. Queen Elizabeth has the second most appearances on the list for either men or women, with 40 top-10 rankings.
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