Poll rates Obama, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Merkel as three most popular leadersSaturday, 30 May 2009, 3:16 p.m.

Dharamshala: US President Barrack Obama continues to retain the number one position, followed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel as three most popular world Leader in five largest European countries and the U.S., a poll conducted by Harris Interactive for France 24 and the International Herald Tribune says.Very strong majorities in Italy (85%), France (84%), Spain (82%), Germany (78%), Great Britain (73%) and the U.S. (69%) voted in favour of the three leaders.The Harris Interactive/France 24/International Herald Tribune study was conducted online by Harris Interactive among a total of 6,332 adults aged 16-64 within France (1,077), Germany (1,007), Great Britain (1,126), Spain (1,030) and the United States (1,052), and adults aged 18-64 in Italy (1,040) between 29 April and 6 May 2009. U.S. President Barack Obama, U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy of France all have lower ratings in their own country then they do when looking at an average of all six countries surveyed. Gordon Brown is 16 points lower (42% in all six countries vs. 25% in Great Britain), Barack Obama is 9 points lower (78% vs. 69%) and Nicolas Sarkozy is 8 points lower (42% vs. 34%).On the reverse side, two leaders have higher ratings in their own countries than in an average of all six. In Italy, 43% of Italians have a favorable opinion of Silvio Berlusconi compared to 19% across the six countries – a 24 point difference. Spain’s Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero has a seven point difference, 46% in Spain versus 39% across the six countries. Germany’s Angela Merkel is perceived almost equally as well in Germany (56%) as across the five European countries and the U.S. (54%).Pope Benedict continues his decline as only 36% of adults across the six countries have a favorable opinion of him. This is down from 39% in April and 49% in January.In Great Britain, the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair is viewed more favorably than the current one, Gordon Brown (31% vs. 25%).When it comes to which world leaders are most influential, U.S. President Barack Obama again tops the list as over three-quarters of adults in all six countries say he has a great deal or some influence at an international level. Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel are second and third across the six countries. –Report compiled from Business Wire Service