Geplaatst:15 jan 2007 09:30 - Gewijzigd: 15 jan 2007 09:30

Bush and Graham among year’s most-admired

PRINCETON - Americans must have politics on their minds. According to a recent Gallup poll, George W. Bush is the most admired man in the world. Hilary Clinton is the most admired woman.

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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.

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. (Associated Baptist Press)