Cheney-Edwards Debate Draws 43.6 Million Viewers

[sonicx]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041006/tv_nm/campaign_debate_ratings_dc&cid=597&ncid=2043

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Nearly 44 million Americans tuned in to see Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) square off against Sen. John Edwards (news - web sites) in the most watched debate between nominees for the No. 2 spot on the presidential ticket since 1992, ratings showed on Wednesday.

The 43.6 million tally for Tuesday night's debate far surpassed the audience for either Cheney's matchup four years ago with Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman (news - web sites) (29 million viewers) or the 1996 contest between then-Vice President Al Gore (news - web sites) and Republican challenger Jack Kemp (26.6 million), Nielsen Media Research reported.

The three-way vice presidential debate in 1992 among Gore, Republican Dan Quayle (news - web sites) and independent James Stockdale averaged 51.2 million viewers.

As usual, interest in the vice presidential debate paled in comparison to the verbal sparring at the top of the ticket. A total of 62.5 million Americans tuned in last Thursday to see the opening debate between President Bush (news - web sites) and Edwards' running mate, Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites).

snip/more

[cliss]

1. Still, 43.6 million is not a small number.

The publicity that the candidates get during these debates is huge. So it really pays to do your homework. It also pays to be a gentleman. Don't be an ass and scowl and sulk and pout.

Right, George?

[ckramer]

5. Oh! Mama!

The best show on TV that night?

[Jack from Charlotte]

10. I'll bet a high percentage were gone after 30 to 45 minutes.

That's my guess. Kerry's debate with the moron was compelling. You knew you were watching an Arse kicking and couldn't turn it off.

I heard someone say usually a great deal of channels change during these debates and I thought at the end of an hour the whole thing in The VP debate bogged down. I was ready for it to end.

[4_Legs_Good]

2. Holy cripes! That's HUGE

I really thought it would be under 20M. Wow!

david

[Blackness]

3. That's a surprising number considering that there were three

playoff baseball games on yesterday.

Who'da thought?

[ThePhilosopher04]

4. Nice trend...

both debates were the most watched since 1992, and we all know what happened in that election!

[Defecit]

6. Good thing for Politics on TV

This is only a good thing for Politics on TV. It has been so marginalized in the past few years particularly with the networks only giving an hour for the conventions. With numbers like this, I could see the networks doing a little more in terms of political shows etc. Maybe it's time to bring Politically Correct back the networks once the Bush Administration gets booted. Although I prefer it on HBO.

[shraby]

7. Does anyone know HOW they know

how many watched the debate? Not only that, but ABC (I think) even knew how many repugs and dems were watching it.

[JI7]

8. i wonder how many of those are true undecideds

[DeepModem Mom]

9. kick