Survey: Ted Cruz Named Third Most Influential Person of 2013

Sen. Ted Cruz has been named the third most influential person among Americans in 2013 by a new Rasmussen Reports survey.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was ranked the third most influential person of 2013 in a new Rasmussen Reports survey. (Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla)

Eleven percent of Americans said the Texas Republican and Tea Party icon was the most influential person of the year, putting him behind Pope Francis, who won with 23 percent, and President Barack Obama, who placed second with 21 percent.

Cruz became a household name with his fight to defund Obamacare after he delivered a 21-hour speech on the Senate floor. He has bucked up against senior Republicans who openly disagreed with him on how to approach the law.

Admitted National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden placed fourth for most influential with 8 percent, followed by Russian President Vladimir Putin with 4 percent. House Speaker John Boehner tied New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for 3 percent.

Among Republicans only, Cruz ranked second most influential with 19 percent, coming in just behind the pope, who received 24 percent.

See more results here.

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