Obama vies with nine others for 'Person of the Year'

It's not every competition that pits President Obama against Pope Francis, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and singer/celebrity twerker Miley Cyrus.

But those are four of the 10 finalists for designation as Time magazine's "Person of the Year."

The winner will be named Wednesday.

In Monday's announcement, Time noted that "Obama was Person of the Year in 2008 and 2012," and "is the only person who appeared on last year's short list to make this year's."

A former president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, "is the only person to receive the title three times," Time said.

Other "Person of the Year" contenders:

• Bashar Assad, president of Syria

• Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder

• Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas

• Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of Health and Human Services

• Edward Snowden, NSA leaker

• Edith Windsor, gay rights activist

It's possible Obama could be paired with another finalist as co-Persons of the Year. Possibilities include Rouhani, Assad, Sebelius, Snowden, and even Cruz.

But probably not Cyrus.

usatoday.com