John Edwards has suffered the greatest decline in stature of any public figure since Gallup first asked the question in 1992.

Edwards' positive rating has plummeted 27 percentage points. Jesse Jackson, Sammy Sosa, Tom Cruise and Lamar Alexander rival Edwards' decline. But Edwards dive is the largest to date.

Only 21 percent of Americans now have a favorable view of Edwards. Of the modern politicians who have had their dalliances, none has sunk like Edwards.

Gallup routinely measures the favorable and unfavorable view of public figures. The poll also found that Sarah Palin, whose favorable rating is at 40 percent, now has the lowest public standing since she stepped on the national stage. But 69 percent of Republicans continue to view Palin positively.