Reagan tops poll for best president

PRINCETON, N.J., Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Americans are more likely to name Ronald Reagan as the greatest U.S. president than either Abraham Lincoln or John F. Kennedy, a new poll indicates.

The latest USA Today/Gallup poll finds that when asked to choose among five presidents who consistently rank among the most revered, 24 percent of Americans pick Reagan compared to 22 percent each for Lincoln and Kennedy.

Franklin Roosevelt was selected by 18 percent of respondents while only 9 percent named George Washington as the greatest president.

Gallup says Reagan's strong showing is mainly owing to his extraordinary 52 percent popularity among Republicans. He is also one of the top-rated presidents among independents but places fourth among Democrats.

Kennedy ranks first among Democrats but places last among Republicans.

The poll of 1,018 adults aged 18 and older was taken by telephone February 6-7 as part of Gallup Poll Daily tracking. It carries an error rate of plus or minus three percentage points.