Hillary Clinton Most Popular Leader in the Country, Polls Show

Hillary Clinton may reconsider her decision not to run in the 2016 Presidential election after reading about the findings of a recent public opinion poll that shows she is the most popular national figure in the country.

According to a Quinnipiac University national poll, the former 65-year-old  U.S. Secretary of State has a favorability rating of 61 percent among registered votes. Clinton's rating puts her well ahead of President Obama who followed in second place at a favorability rating of 51 percent. Their unfavorable ratings were 34 and 46 percent, respectively.

Pollsters surveyed 1772 registered voters via telephone beginning January 30 through February 4. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.3 percent.

Twenty-one percent of the 34 percent who answered that they don't have a favorable view of Clinton, cited Clinton's handling of the Benghazi terror attacks in Sept. 11, 2012, when four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, were killed. 

Among Hispanics, Clinton has a favorablity rating of 72 percent, slightly hire than Pres. Obama's rating of 71 percent, poll findings indicate.

Clinton, a former First Lady and Presidential contender in 2008, has the name recognition that sets her apart from her peers. Other party leaders and government officials show lower ratings because voters say they don't know much about them. Below are results of how other national figures matched up against Clinton:

• 46 - 41 percent for Vice President Joseph Biden;
• 25 - 29 percent for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, with 45 percent who don't know enough about him to form an opinion;
• 20 - 42 percent for House Speaker John Boehner;
• 27 - 15 percent for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, with 57 percent who don't know enough;
• 34 - 36 percent for U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan;
• 43 - 33 percent for new Secretary of State John Kerry;
• 14 - 18 percent for Defense Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel, with 67 percent who don't know enough about him.