58 Million Tuned Into Last Night's Debate, More Than In 2008

FNC topped the ratings. It just barely edged CBS and ABC.

Still, cable over broadcast network.

Obviously this means that a goodly number of people saw the debate, and that's a Good Thing.

I'm thinking this: Remember in 2008, how Obama captured the imagination of so many? And so many tuned in because of the unprecedentedness of it all? The drama? The celebrity angle? That it was more than politics, it was a Happening?

I'm wondering if any case could be made that even more people tuning in now is bad for Obama, even ignoring his performance. If you're still sold on Obama, it's not like you haven't seen Obama six thousand times already. You know his schtick. Nothing new coming down the pike.

So why would more tune in now? Surely it's not because more people have jumped on the bandwagon; that is inconceivable. You don't gain supporters with 17% real unemployment.

I don't know if much of a case can be made for that line. But I wonder.

Anyway, whether that slapdash logic works or not -- Obama was surely hoping that not too many people tuned in. Well, that hope was dashed.

Extra bonus: The stakes have been raised, and hence the drama. That means, I hope, that more people than usual will tune into Ryan/Biden.

And I don't want to count chickens before they hosta but... it's plus ten chickens.

A Romney Rally? So speculated.

65 Million? On Twitter, someone said Rush is quoting the 65 million figure, which doesn't include Spanish-language broadcasts or internet viewers.

posted by Ace at 02:08 PM

| Access Comments