Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were respectively voted Americans’ most admired man and woman of 2010 in a USA Today-Gallup poll, released on Monday, Dec. 27.
Obama, who has been chosen as the most admired man for the third consecutive year, received 22 percent of the votes—substantially more votes than the other candidates, according to the poll, including second-place former President George W. Bush at five percent.
Shortly after Obama was elected as the nation’s 44th president in 2008, 32 percent of Americans voted for him as the most admired man. In 2009, 30 percent chose him.
Since Gallup first posed the question in 1946, incumbent presidents have featured heavily in the poll, achieving top place in 52 out of 64 years.
Evangelical Christian Rev. Billy Graham, who placed sixth in 2010, has appeared 54 times on the Top 10 list over the 92 years of his life.
On the ladies’ side, Hillary Clinton was voted the most admired woman for the ninth straight year. Clinton first appeared in the Top 10 list in 1992.
First lady Michelle Obama placed fourth, after Sarah Palin in second and Oprah Winfrey in third.
“Historically, first ladies have figured prominently on the list, typically appearing in the top three at some point during their White House tenure,” Gallup reported.
Unlike their husbands, first ladies are much less likely to achieve the top ranking. No first lady has won first place, since Laura Bush made it in 2001.
First ladies who have placed first include Clinton, with six top rankings in Bill Clinton’s two terms as president; Nancy Reagan, who topped the list three times in Ronald Reagan’s two terms; Barbara Bush, who achieved it twice in George W. Bush’s single term; and Rosalynn Carter, who placed or tied for first in three years during Jimmy Carter’s single term.
2010’s Most Admired Man: Top 10
1. Barack Obama: 22 percent
2. George W. Bush: 5 percent
3. Bill Clinton: 4 percent
4. Nelson Mandela: 2 percent
5. Bill Gates: 2 percent
6. (tie) Pope Benedict XVI: 2 percent
6. (tie) Rev. Billy Graham: 2 percent
8. (tie) Jimmy Carter: 2 percent
8. (tie) Glenn Beck: 2 percent
10. The Dalai Lama: 1 percent
2010’s Most Admired Woman: Top 10
1. Hillary Clinton: 17 percent
2. Sarah Palin: 12 percent
3. Oprah Winfrey: 11 percent
4. Michelle Obama: 5 percent
5. Condoleezza Rice: 2 percent
6. Queen Elizabeth: 2 percent
7. Angelina Jolie: 1 percent
8. Margaret Thatcher: 1 percent
9. (tie) Aung San Suu Kyi: 1 percent
9. (tie) Laura Bush: 1 percent
9. (tie) Barbara Bush: 1 percent
Obama, who has been chosen as the most admired man for the third consecutive year, received 22 percent of the votes—substantially more votes than the other candidates, according to the poll, including second-place former President George W. Bush at five percent.
Shortly after Obama was elected as the nation’s 44th president in 2008, 32 percent of Americans voted for him as the most admired man. In 2009, 30 percent chose him.
Since Gallup first posed the question in 1946, incumbent presidents have featured heavily in the poll, achieving top place in 52 out of 64 years.
Evangelical Christian Rev. Billy Graham, who placed sixth in 2010, has appeared 54 times on the Top 10 list over the 92 years of his life.
On the ladies’ side, Hillary Clinton was voted the most admired woman for the ninth straight year. Clinton first appeared in the Top 10 list in 1992.
First lady Michelle Obama placed fourth, after Sarah Palin in second and Oprah Winfrey in third.
“Historically, first ladies have figured prominently on the list, typically appearing in the top three at some point during their White House tenure,” Gallup reported.
Unlike their husbands, first ladies are much less likely to achieve the top ranking. No first lady has won first place, since Laura Bush made it in 2001.
First ladies who have placed first include Clinton, with six top rankings in Bill Clinton’s two terms as president; Nancy Reagan, who topped the list three times in Ronald Reagan’s two terms; Barbara Bush, who achieved it twice in George W. Bush’s single term; and Rosalynn Carter, who placed or tied for first in three years during Jimmy Carter’s single term.
2010’s Most Admired Man: Top 10
1. Barack Obama: 22 percent
2. George W. Bush: 5 percent
3. Bill Clinton: 4 percent
4. Nelson Mandela: 2 percent
5. Bill Gates: 2 percent
6. (tie) Pope Benedict XVI: 2 percent
6. (tie) Rev. Billy Graham: 2 percent
8. (tie) Jimmy Carter: 2 percent
8. (tie) Glenn Beck: 2 percent
10. The Dalai Lama: 1 percent
2010’s Most Admired Woman: Top 10
1. Hillary Clinton: 17 percent
2. Sarah Palin: 12 percent
3. Oprah Winfrey: 11 percent
4. Michelle Obama: 5 percent
5. Condoleezza Rice: 2 percent
6. Queen Elizabeth: 2 percent
7. Angelina Jolie: 1 percent
8. Margaret Thatcher: 1 percent
9. (tie) Aung San Suu Kyi: 1 percent
9. (tie) Laura Bush: 1 percent
9. (tie) Barbara Bush: 1 percent
