Hillary Clinton Most Admired Woman, Poll Finds

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Hillary Clinton

(AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Hillary Clinton narrowly edged out Sarah Palin as America's most admired woman in a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll.

Asked "what woman living today do you admire the most," 16 percent cited Clinton, while 15 percent chose Palin. Rounding out the top five were Oprah Winfrey (eight percent), Condoleezza Rice (two percent) and Queen Elizabeth (two percent).

USA Today reports that nearly 30 percent of Democrats chose Clinton, while just six percent of Republicans did so. On the flip side, Palin was the choice of one in three Republicans but less than one percent of Democrats.

Clinton has been among the top two most admired women in the yearly poll for the past 17 years.

As for the men: President Obama easily topped the list of the most admired living man, taking 30 percent of the vote. He was followed by George W. Bush (four percent), Nelson Mandela (three percent), Glenn Beck (two percent) and Pope Benedict XVI (two percent).

A bit more from the poll: "Among men, former president Bill Clinton ties for 10th with Tiger Woods, the golfer engulfed in scandal. Elin Nordegren Woods, the athlete's wife, ties with German Chancellor Angela Merkel as the ninth most-admired woman."

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by bassinapple December 31, 2009 9:12 AM EST

We all know if Sarah Palin had not made this list CBS would have put in on the front page, and Katie Couric would have given us the story on the Evening News. But since Palin made the list, CBS had to hide the story. When will CBS learn Ameicans see through their bias.

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by daffy64 January 4, 2010 3:05 PM EST: Uh. Yeah. We all know that.


by stormerF2 December 31, 2009 8:31 AM EST: See what can be accomplished with all the Biased Mainstream Media behind a Congenital Liar? She lied about where she got her name,She lied about getting a letter fron NASA,She lied about dodging sniper fire. Major problem is the Media let her get away with it.; Reply to this comment

by CBSisCommunist2 December 31, 2009 1:04 AM EST

How desperate this sounds. I would like to see this "poll"

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by cidaia December 31, 2009 5:26 AM EST: Then go to Gallup's web page.

Apparently you are not aware of just how reputable and mainstream Gallup is. There's nothing fishy about this poll. And, by the way, they didn't drum this up just for this occasion, either - the question is one they clock regularly.

How unfortunate to be one of the many Americans who so desperately wants to believe that "nobody really likes" Hillary and/or Sarah. LOL


by fedupwithlies2 December 31, 2009 12:47 AM EST: Hilary is Obama II. She is touting Communism the same as obama and has since her college days where her favorite movie to take over the world was the movie,"2001, The space odyssey".

If you want to see more Obama aka known as deceit and destroy, go for Hilary.; Reply to this comment


by fedupwithlies2 December 31, 2009 12:47 AM EST: Hilary is Obama II. She is touting Communism the same as obama and has since her college days where her favorite movie to take over the world was the movie,"2001, The space odyssey".

If you want to see more Obama aka known as deceit and destroy, go for Hilary.; Reply to this comment


by fedupwithlies2 December 31, 2009 12:47 AM EST: Hilary is Obama II. She is touting Communism the same as obama and has since her college days where her favorite movie to take over the world was the movie,"2001, The space odyssey".

If you want to see more Obama aka known as deceit and destroy, go for Hilary.; Reply to this comment

by Unclemercer December 30, 2009 8:04 PM EST

Sarah is delightful. Hillary is frightful.

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by daffy64 January 4, 2010 3:05 PM EST: And Sarah is stupid. And Hillary is smart.


by CBSisCommunist2 December 30, 2009 7:19 PM EST: If Obama was at the top of the list-then they need to quit polling LIBERALS.; Reply to this comment

by bassinapple December 30, 2009 5:36 PM EST

Americans feel the same about Clinton and Palin, then why don't the media treat them equally? Media bias, naturally. This poll is amazing considering the media coverage these two women get. Clinton sees positive coverage, while Palin is attacked constantly. Americans see through the media bias

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by ToolMangler1 December 30, 2009 6:21 PM EST: Palin goes on TV and promotes herself. Hillary doesn't promote anything but America. I will promote her when the time comes.


by crikeytx46 December 30, 2009 6:25 PM EST: Hillary promotes liberalism not AMERICA..and it seems that OB is pretty much keeping her in the closet where she should be along with hubby!!!!


by stn_sage December 30, 2009 4:53 PM EST: Hillary Clinton?! Queen Elizabeth?! Good grief!!
Four out of five of the top of the poll are unlikely choices in my mind!

AMERICA has far more outstanding women than these listed!

I wonder if the pollsters are making "suggestions" to the people they're
polling if and when they can't readily think of someone?!

But...everyone is entitled to their opinion! So be it!; Reply to this comment