The late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., was one of the best-known and best-liked politicians of his political era, Gallup tracking reported Sunday.
In an analysis of Americans' views of the Arizona Republican from 1999 through 2017, his favorable rating stood above 50 percent most of the time, Gallup reported.
Since his second presidential run in 2007-2008, McCain's familiarity rating was typically over 90 percent, the pollster added.
"[T]here is little doubt that, over the long arc of his public career, most Americans viewed the Arizona Republican favorably – not to mention that more than a few Americans cited McCain as the man they most admire over these years," Gallup's Andrew Dugan wrote. "Few politicians in this day and age can boast such a resoundingly positive verdict from the people."
According to Gallup, in August 2017 — the last of the periodic surveys taken — McCain's popularity was at its highest level in almost a decade, with 58 percent having a favorable view of him, up 5 percentage points from the previous reading in 2015.
McCain also ranked fifth on the December 2017 list of men Americans say they admire the most, his sixth top 10 finish overall and his first since 2012, Gallup reported.
"McCain ranks as one of the best-liked presidential candidates since 2000, with an average of 58 percent of Americans having a favorable opinion of him during the general election," Gallup reported.
Only Barack Obama in 2008 and George W. Bush in 2000 had higher general-election favorable rating averages.
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