Here's what's at the top of Drudge's middle column at the moment:
Actually, I count seven previous cover appearances since December 10, 2007, less than nine months ago:
December 10, 2007; Feb. 18, 2008; March 10, 2008; April 21, 2008
May 5, 2008; May 19, 2008; August 11, 2008
That also doesn't include at least these two others that came earlier:
October 23, 2006; May 14, 2007
You read that May 14, 2007 cover right. Time considered a freshman US senator in his third year of service who was in the fifth month of a presidential campaign running against a half-dozen or so opponents to be one of the most influential people in the world.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.