Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is the most popular political leader in the nation's capital, according to a poll.

The survey taken by Harris Interactive shows that respondents gave Clinton a 48 percent positive rating as opposed to a 34 percent negative rating. The only other D.C. leader included in the poll who was ranked more positively than negatively is Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (28 percent to 21 percent).

Other leaders about which respondents were asked are Vice President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

President Barack Obama was not a part of the list.

The poll surveyed 2,276 adults online between Dec. 7 and 14. It was taken before the Senate passed its version of healthcare reform.

A majority of those polled were not familiar with all the leaders besides Clinton, Biden and Pelosi. Forty-nine percent were familiar with Gates.

"These findings confirm that only a minority of the public is familiar with more than a small number of leaders in D.C.," Harris analysts wrote.

Among respondents who were familiar with the leaders, all except Clinton and Gates were ranked more negatively than positively.

"Most people with opinions continue to hold much more negative than positive feelings about Washington and most of our federal government leaders," its analysts said. "It is reasonable to expect this to continue until the economy is seen to be improving."

Harris points out that secretaries of state are often ranked highly.

"Whether that is because fewer people blame them for the country's economic and domestic problems or because they are often seen on a world stage, this survey does not tell us," its analysts wrote.

By Jordan Fabian, The Hill, December 29, 2009