CNN Names President Obama 2012’s ‘Most Intriguing Person’

CNN has just named President Obama 2012’s “Most Intriguing Person.” Unlike Time Magazine‘s “Person of the Year” contest, the CNN winner is ultimately chosen by online voters.

The CNN announcement piece begins, “A year ago, President Barack Obama was under fire. Today, he is being feted.” The article goes on to describe Obama’s second historic re-election in the midst of sweeping health care reform:

In just 12 months, the 51-year-old lawyer and former U.S. senator raised by a single mother went from a beleaguered candidate for re-election — his record and signature health care law under daily attack by Republican rivals — to being the first Democrat to win more than 50% of a presidential vote twice since Franklin D. Roosevelt.

After a series of key public policy decisions, including immigration reform and support for same-sex marriage, Obama launched himself to a second victory. Returning to his stylistic roots during the campaign helped, as well:

During the final months of the election campaign, Obama also recovered the message and personal style that catapulted him to his historic victory four years earlier. Shouting himself hoarse at times on the trail, he cast himself as the champion of equal opportunity and closing a widening wealth gap in the country.

CNN voters chose Malala Yousufzai, the 15-year-old girl targeted by the Taliban for promoting women’s education, as second most intriguing.
—
>> Follow Anjali Sareen (@AnjaliSareen) On Twitter

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!