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The tally is in on this year’s USA Today Gallup Poll for Most Admired People 2009. The poll asked respondents: What man and woman living today do you admire the most? The clear male winner was Barack Obama with 30% of the votes. The female winner was nearly a dead heat between Hillary Rodham Clinton, who received 16 % of the votes and Sarah Palin with 15% of the votes.

Behind Obama were George W. Bush, 4%, Nelson Mandela, 3%, and a virtual four way tie between Glenn Beck, Pope Benedict XVI, Rev. Billy Graham and Bill Gates, who each garnered 2% of the votes cast.

Behind Clinton and Palin were Oprah Winfrey, 8%, Michelle Obama, 7%, Condoleezza Rice and Queen Elizabeth at 2%, and Margaret Thatcher and Maya Angelou with 1%.

This is the second year for all three of our top picks. Last year Obama led the pack with 32%. Hillary had 20% to Sarah’s 11%, which would seem to indicate the Palin has gained some appeal and Clinton has lost some ground.

View the rest of this year’s gallery below.


Check out who made this list: Scandals, Apologies and Regrets 2009.