Poll: Obama over Jesus; McCain crushes Palin Rachel Oswald

Published: Friday February 20, 2009





Print This Email This President Obama's broad public popularity continues with Americans naming him their number one hero in a new poll.



Obama is brand new to the poll, last conducted in 2001 by Harris Interactive. He vaulted to the No. 1 slot in front of Jesus Christ and Martin Luther King, who were ranked number two and number three respectively.



Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whose popularity at times seemed to eclipse that of Sen. John McCain during the 2008 campaign, was roundly beaten by him in the new poll. McCain came in at No. 7, while Palin just managed to make the American heroes list, coming in at No.21.



The online survey of 2,634 adults was conducted by Harris from Jan. 12-19.



Rounding out the top five were two past presidents - Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.



Despite his ranking as the best president of all time by historians in a new survey for C-Span, Abraham Lincoln was beaten by Bush in the heroes poll, coming in at No.6. Bush incidentally was ranked by historians as the seventh worst president.



Coming in at No. 8 in the poll is John F. Kennedy followed by Chelsey Sullenberger (America's current favorite pilot) and Mother Teresa.



Respondents to the poll named their heroes spontaneously when asked whom they admired. Those surveyed were not shown or read a list of people to choose from, according to a press release from Harris.



The top 5 in the 2001 poll by Harris were Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, Colin Powell, JFK and Mother Teresa. Bush was only ranked 19th at the time the poll was conducted in July. John McCain, didn't even make it into the top 20 in 2001.



"When asked to name people who used to be their heroes but who they no longer consider as heroes, the people mentioned most often are Colin Powell, George W. Bush, John McCain, Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy. In 2001, Bill Clinton topped this list," said Harris in their release



Interestingly, Hillary Clinton, now Secretary of State, ranks higher on the list (No.12) than her husband, President Bill Clinton (No.16).



From the release: Heroes who were in the top 10 in 2001 who have fallen sharply this year include:



Colin Powell who was No.3 and is now No. 16.

John Wayne who was No. 8 and has dropped out of the top 20.

Michael Jordan who was number 9 and is no longer in the top 20.

Mother Teresa who was No. 5 and is now No. 10.











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