Obama's Puppy Popular With Newseum Visitors

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President Obama with Bo at the White House. (Pete Souza/The White House)

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President Johnson with Him and Her. (Charles P. Gorry/Courtesy The AP)

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Vice president Nixon holds Checkers. (Courtesy The AP)

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President Ford with Liberty. (David Hume Kennerly/ Gerald R. Ford Library)

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President Bush and Barney. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Courtesy The AP)

WASHINGTON — Bo Obama has been in the White House for just six weeks, but Newseum visitors already consider the cute Portuguese water dog to be America’s "top first dog."

More than 9,100 votes have been cast in the museum’s just-for-kicks popularity poll, which pits the current and former presidential dogs against one another.

In addition to Bo, Bill Clinton’s Labrador retriever, Buddy; George H.W. Bush’s English Springer spaniel, Millie; Richard Nixon’s cocker spaniel, Checkers; Lyndon B. Johnson’s beagles, Him and Her; and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Scottish terrier, Fala, are vying for the title of "top first dog" in the special election.

One month into the poll, Bo is leading the pack with 35 percent of the votes. Fala, who once starred in a Hollywood movie, is running second with 23 percent.

The election is part of the popular exhibit, "First Dogs: American Presidents and Their Pets," which features photographs of nearly two dozen U.S. presidents and their furry friends. "First Dogs" is now on view in the museum’s Special Exhibits area on Level 4.

"First Dogs" is supported by a gift to the Newseum from PEDIGREE®, a brand of Mars, Inc.