Obama Most Admired Man: Poll

Barack Obama is the man Americans admire most, according to a new USA Today/Gallup poll, and no one else comes even close. Obama was the first or second pick for 32% of respondents; George Bush, who has topped the list for 7 years, came in second with just 5%. It’s the first time a president-elect has topped the list in more than 50 years.

The results point to "a honeymoon period,” said one presidential historian of Obama, a "real opportunity for him to try to get things done because he'll have a lot of support." Also receiving votes were John McCain (3%), Pope Benedict, and Bill Clinton (both 2%). In the most-admired woman race, Hillary Clinton won handily for the 13th time in 16 years with 20% of the vote, beating out Sarah Palin’s 11%. Oprah took third with 8%.