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Washington Hillary Rodham Clinton is once again Americas most admired woman her 13th straight year atop Gallups annual survey and 19th time overall.

But for the second year in a row, Ms. Clintons number has declined. In 2012, 21 percent named her the most admired woman, and in 2013, she fell to 15 percent. In 2014, shes down to 12 percent.

Whats going on? Politics. Clinton is widely seen as a likely presidential candidate in 2016, and we suspect that has repoliticized her image. As secretary of State for President Obamas first term, she stayed out of the political fray. Now shes fully back in, weighing in on the issues of the day and doing nothing to discourage speculation about when she might announce her campaign.

Gallup, not surprisingly, finds partisan influence in Americans choices.

Republicans' and Democrats' top five most admired women include both Clinton and [Oprah] Winfrey, and their top five most admired men include both the president and the pope, writes Jeffrey Jones, Gallups managing editor. Beyond these, their choices differ.

But heres an interesting nugget that may give Clintonites pause: Among Democrats and Democratic leaners, Clinton got only 20 percent. Shes still far and away the top choice of Democrats for the nomination, but in Gallups open-ended most admired question, shes the choice of only one-fifth of her partisan fellows.

Democrats top five women are Clinton (20 percent), entertainment mogul Winfrey (10 percent), Pakistani teen activist Malala Yousafzai (7), first lady Michelle Obama (6), and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) of Massachusetts (3).

Clinton enthusiasts can at least take comfort that she scores almost seven times better than Senator Warren, the liberal firebrand who insists shes not running for president.

Republicans top five women are former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (9 percent), Ms. Winfrey (6 percent), Clinton (5), former GOP VP nominee Sarah Palin (4), and actress Angelina Jolie (3).

That 5 percent for Clinton among Republicans is a little plus for the former first lady/senator/secretary of State. But were probably way over-interpreting all this. The 2014 midterms just concluded, and maybe some folks are just taking a break from politics and spreading the love. Malala just won the Nobel Peace Prize, no doubt boosting her overall score from 2 percent last year to 5 percent this year.

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Gallups most admired list: Hillary Clinton No. 1, but declining