35 million more people watched Kerry/Bush debates than Bush/Gore debates..

[kentuck]

I saw this factoid on CNN earlier. Is there any political significance in that fact? :)

[jefferson_dem]

1. That's almost half as much as watched debate #1. But remember baseball

was on at the same time. Viewership was way up this year, as compared to 1996 and 2000 at least. That signals a heightened interest, and a likely larger turnout also. Our guy stands to benefit as a result. And that's besides the fact that 35 million were exposed to kerry's "presidential" performance.

[gcomeau]

2. That's 35 million MORE. Not 35 million total.

-Grant

[jefferson_dem]

5. D'oh! My bad.

[kentuck]

3. Hey ! That's one of my favorite Dylan quotes...

in your sigline. :)

And I agree that a lot of people got to see Kerry look "presidential".

[PATRICK]

4. A great deal

Gore attracted some Dem viewers the first time. Unexcited, assumed he won. During the interim the Bush supporters got whipped up and Bush "triumphed" in the second debate, thanks in part to a higher number of Bush supporter viewers and interested undecideds, completing the "Gore lost" spin meme that had(and continues to be even here) so mindlessly successful. By that token alone Bush has reversed the situation to put himself more firmly in the loser's seat, but the nation was more drawn as a whole to follow the desperate failure of Bush and the affirmation of Kerry.

Keeping your ears to the radio, eyes on the tube has decapitated the wildly insane ploy of trying to spin for Bush. Word of mouth is dragging the media down with him.

America seems more awake this time and the advantage is all Kerry.

[troubleinwinter]

6. Oh, GOOD point!

When people have listened with their own ears, 'spin' aintta gonna work!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

7. Resemblance between young shrub and Bundy is scary, eh?