When I was a kid, I used to read comic books where the plots explored alternate universes (apparently due to a lack of plausible plot ideas). In these alternate comics, Superman would use his powers for evil and was a really unlikeable character, etc. In a recent Zogby poll, it appears that, after nearly two terms of George W. Bush, Americans are ready for their own version of an alternate universe, one featuring the anti-George. You know, someone with diplomatic, managerial, verbal and math skills:

The results suggest that Americans are looking for strong, unifying leadership skills both at home and abroad. About eight in 10 said it was very important to elect a “competent manager” and someone who could “bring the American people together.” Also very high on the priority list: someone who could take charge of the military, promote the United States’ image abroad and demonstrate “personal morality.” Lower on the list of priorities were party loyalty and resume-oriented measures such asbusiness, diplomatic or legislative experience.

On the traits most important to voters, the front-runners of both parties — Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican Rudy Giuliani — were deemed well-equipped to deliver. They were the top two out of 19 prospective candidates characterized as competent managers. On foreign policy matters, Clinton topped the list, with 24 percent saying she could best promote the U.S. image abroad; Giuliani came in second with 16 percent.

Who’d most likely be a “uniter, not a divider,” for the American people? Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., came out ahead of Clinton on that measure, tying Giuliani for the top spot with 22 percent. But when it comes to uniting partisans on Capitol Hill, more respondents had faith in Clinton (19 percent) than Obama (15 percent).

On the Republican side, Arizona Sen. John McCain’s military experience is still his greatest asset, with one-third saying he’d be the best candidate to command the armed forces.

Meanwhile, the “moral values” question remains Giuliani’s Achilles’ heel. Only 6 percent of respondents said he displayed personal morality, while McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) registered in the teens. In a CBS News/New York Times poll last week, 37 percent of respondents said they did not think Giuliani shared the same values as “most Republicans”; the same percentage said he does. But in that poll’s primary matchup, Giuliani still topped McCain and Romney among Republican voters.