Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal predict by a wide margin that Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Janet Yellen will succeed Chairman Ben Bernanke when his term ends in January.

In the poll, 35 of the 42 economists surveyed forecast Yellen will get the nod from President Obama for the position. Obama's former economic adviser Lawrence Summers placed second with five votes.

Bernanke is seen wanting to leave the Fed when he finishes this term, his second.

Editor's Note: Economist Unapologetically Calls Out Bernanke, Obama for Mishandling Economy. See What They Did

As for whom economists would like to see follow him, Yellen received 27 percent support, New York Fed President William Dudley received 15 percent and former Fed Vice Chairman Roger Ferguson 9 percent. Summers, former Fed Vice Chairman Donald Kohn and Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fisher tied at 6 percent.

Yellen also took first place on questions concerning monetary policy expertise, communication skills and consensus building. But some economists argue she wouldn't be strong enough in fighting inflation.

The Obama administration is now putting together a short list of candidates, but the president isn't expected to make his choice until early autumn, The Journal reports.

Journalist Ezra Klein thinks Yellen's gender may put her at a disadvantage.

"She’s by no means a sure thing," he wrote on Bloomberg. "One important reason she’s not — and I don’t know another way to say this — is sexism, as evidenced by the seemingly uncoordinated yet disturbingly consistent whispering campaign against her."

Editor's Note: Economist Unapologetically Calls Out Bernanke, Obama for Mishandling Economy. See What They Did