America’s Congressional Leaders may be well known in their home town, but unknown to most Americans.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) is viewed favorably by 49% of American voters and unfavorably by 40%. That’s an improvement from a month ago when 43% had a favorable opinion of her. Those figures also give Pelosi the highest name recognition of anybody in the Congressional Leadership ranks and make her the only Congressional Leader with a higher favorable total than unfavorable.

Rasmussen Reports surveys conducted during January show that Republican Trent Lott is second in the national name recognition category—74% have an opinion of the Mississippi Senator. However, just 31% have a favorable opinion while 43% hold an unfavorable view.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) is the only other Congressional Leader whose name recognition tops 55%. Reid is viewed favorably by 29% and unfavorably by 35%. Thirty-six percent (36%) don’t know enough to offer an opinion.

Reid’s GOP counterpart, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, is known by 54%. Twenty-one percent (21%) have a favorable opinion of the veteran lawmaker while 33% hold the opposite view.

Senator Dick Durbin (D) is viewed favorably by 16% and unfavorably by 35%.

The House Republican leader, John Boehner, is viewed favorably by 14% and unfavorably by 34%. The numbers for Roy Blunt (R) are 14% and 31% respectively.

Majority Whip James Clyburn (D) earns positive ratings from 17% of voters nationally. Twenty-eight percent (28%) take the opposite view while most don’t know enough about him to offer an opinion.

Some Senators running for President fare better than those in the Congressional Leadership. John McCain (R) is viewed favorably by 52%, Barack Obama (D) by 50%, and Hillary Clinton (D) by 49%. Rasmussen Reports provides regularly updated ratings for all Democratic and Republican candidates along with Congressional Leaders and other political figures.

A separate survey found that 71% of Americans believe that the Democrats are likely to retain control of Congress following the 2008 elections.