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Debate viewership falls from last week's town hall

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor October 16, 2008 07:25 PM

Nearly 60 million people watched Wednesday night's third and final presidential debate, more than the audience for the first, but fewer people than for the second debate.

Nielsen Media Research reported today that 56.5 million viewers saw the debate on the major broadcast and cable networks. PBS, which tallies its numbers separately, estimated its audience at 3 million.

The combined viewerships were about 55 million for the first debate Sept. 26, a Friday when TV audiences are typically lower, and 66 million for the town hall on Oct. 7.

Nielsen said the ratings for Wednesday night were "affected to some degree" by game five of the National League Championship Series between Philadelphia and Los Angeles, which drew about 8 million viewers on Fox, which showed the prior two debates.

All the presidential debates this year took a back seat, however, to the one and only vice presidential face-off, which drew the second-largest debate audience ever, about 70 million.

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MCCAIN HAS A TEMPER BIG TIME, WATCH OUT!

Posted by AUDREY October 16, 08 01:04 PM
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I wish there were a third choice - I think the best thing we can all do as Americans is first off remember that WE DO live in the greatest country and if we really want change we have to be more proactive and responsible and make change happen ourselves and if you believe in God... Pray!

Posted by Patty October 16, 08 01:23 PM
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The last thing America needs is an out of touch "Maverick" at its helm. We don't need a leader that is quick to be offended & prides himself on doing what HE claims is the right thing, though it may be unpopular. Our leaders have already acted as emotional Mavericks, ignoring the advice set up by the very institutions designed to help keep us out of war and avoid the situations that we have found ourselves in today. America has acted as an arrogant bully; pointing fingers at nations that wouldn't validate us & calling them cowards. And now we act as cowards, refusing to admit when we were wrong, refusing to reconsider our intentions and motives. We need more honesty, negotiation,empathy and understanding, as we displayed in the Cuban Missile Crisis, not a so called "Maverick". Old politics will lead us to destruction, because its not just good old fashioned war anymore, its nuclear war. If JFK would have listened to the voice of experience aka old politics (General Curtis LeMay) we would have invaded Cuba in the missile crisis to try and beat them before they could beat us. If we had done so, Castro has told us in recent years, that he would have launched nuclear missiles at us, and in fact was waiting to do so if we chose to invade.


Posted by Alyssa October 16, 08 03:03 PM
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There is a third choice, vote BOB BARR

Posted by Jonathon October 16, 08 07:19 PM
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Obama is the only choice you need. He has the right ideas, energy and the courage to pursue what is right for America.

Posted by Paul Stewart October 16, 08 09:47 PM
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McCain will never be given credit for going well. No matter how Obama does people prase him. Give me a break. A Democrat votting McCain.

Posted by Why Obama? October 16, 08 10:57 PM
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