FIRST PUBLISHED: April 9, 2008 3:20 PM EDT
LAST UPDATED: April 9, 2008 4:40 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Teenage contender David Archuleta is going to sweep “American Idol,” according to a new poll from Reuters.

Forty percent of the viewers questioned chose Archuleta as their top pick, according to E-Poll Market Research, who conducted the survey on behalf of the news agency.

Archuleta emerged as a frontrunner in the competition early on after he gave a stunning rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine” in February. Though the baby-faced, blue-eyed boy has had a less-than-steady run on the show since, picking songs the judges slated and forgetting the words to Beatles cut “We Can Work It Out,” he has managed to stay out of the dreaded bottom three every week.

When asked who they wanted to win however, Archuleta came out in a tie with rocker David Cook. Both contenders netted 25% each.

Voters chose Cook as most talented however, giving the rocker 31 percent to Archuleta’s 27. Irish singer Carly Smithson came in third followed by curly haired Brooke White, Australian Michael Johns, dreadlocked singer Jason Castro, country-cutie Kristy Lee Cook and Syesha Mercado.

And they gave high marks to Simon Cowell as well. Though voters claimed his biggest trait is being “rude,” 64 percent of those polled said he was their favorite judge.

Around 1,100 people ages 13 and over were polled for the survey last week.

Copyright 2009 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Keep your Access to everything in Hollywood! Breaking news and personal commentary from Nancy, Billy, Tony, Shaun, Maria & all of our producers! Follow us on and now!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

What Do You Think?

How many times will you see ‘New Moon?’

  • Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in ‘New Moon’
     
  • Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart chat during the presentation of their new film ‘The Twighlight Saga: New Moon’ during the HVB youth event at the Olympic Hall on November 14, 2009 in Munich, Germany
     
  • Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson arrive at the afterparty for the premiere ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ at the Hammer Museum on November 16, 2009 in Los Angeles, California
     
  • Robert Pattinson runs his fingers through his hair as he hits ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ premiere red carpet, LA, Nov. 16, 2009
     
  • Michael Sheen in Summit’s ‘New Moon’
     
  • Alex Meraz, Kiowa Gordon, and Chaske Spence as werewolves in ‘New Moon’