Michelle Outranks Hillary

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is less powerful than Michelle Obama and barely beats out Lady Gaga, according to a ranking of the world’s most powerful women by Forbes magazine. Clinton has at least risen in the rankings, going from No. 36 in 2009, when she was a senator, to No. 5. Lady Gaga, unranked last year, is No. 7. The first lady tops the list. Kraft Foods CEO Irene Rosenfeld ranks second, Oprah is third, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who topped the list last year, comes in at fourth. The magazine now ranks power based not only on earnings and authority, but also “buzz factor.” Mama Grizzly Sarah Palin is No. 16.