Heh, I voted the second one, I'm not a total Pika PiKa fReAk but he's on my list of faves. He's an original, I thought he was 1# until I noticed Bulbasaur was... long ago.
Heck I have a level 100 one in my main party on my Red version, I hadnt played it for years and when I did I was like "O_o A Pikachu? Why isnt it Raichu?" Then I remembered the promise I made to myself long ago that I'd never evolve it... how dramatic...
So yes, Pikachu is a very good Pokemon, people just take it for granted because its gotten annoying being in every episode ever since the beginning and was possibly over advertised. What if Poliwag was Ash's main Pokemon and was the mascot? Everyone would probably love Pikachu and hate him then...
NoTe: Ehheh Poliwag was just an example, but uhh he's awesome too!