“Lenin’s picture is probably more popular in the US than in Russia “
Correct. He was pulled down in all the Russian cities, but still stands ... in Seattle.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/9056
We have more socialists in positions of power in the US (academia and Govt) than in Russia and China.
His statue is standing in 4 different locations in the US of Socialism!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_statues_of_Lenin#Other_places