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