The vice presidential debate is tonight. Here’s what to expect on viewership.

Craig Nigrelli

WITH EXACTLY FIVE WEEKS TO GO UNTIL ELECTION NIGHT, THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES WILL SQUARE OFF IN A DEBATE TONIGHT IN NEW YORK CITY.  ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY WATCH THE DEBATE BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TIM WALZ OF MINNESOTA AND REPUBLICAN SENATOR JD VANCE OF OHIO. 

VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES TYPICALLY DO NOT DRAW THE SAME BIG AUDIENCES OF PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES.  POLITICAL EXPERTS SAY BOTH CANDIDATES ARE STILL INTRODUCING THEMSELVES TO THE NATION.  THE DEBATE OFFERS THEM A CHANCE TO STAND OUT AND GET RECOGNIZED. 

LOOKING BACK AT PAST NIELSEN TELEVISION RATINGS FOR VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES, THE 2008 CLASH BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN AND REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE SARAH PALIN, STANDS OUT.  IT DREW AN AUDIENCE OF 42 PERCENT OF AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS. 

FOUR YEARS LATER, THAT NUMBER FELL TO 32 PERCENT WHEN BIDEN DEBATED REPUBLICAN PAUL RYAN.  MORE RECENTLY IN 2020, THE DEBATE BETWEEN KAMALA HARRIS AND MIKE PENCE DREW AN AUDIENCE OF 33.7 %. 

NIELSEN MEASURES THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS USING TELEVISION THAT TUNED IN, OFTEN CALLED HUT LEVELS.  HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT SAMPLE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE STREAMING A DEBATE ON-LINE. 67 POINT ONE MILLION PEOPLE WATCHED LAST MONTH’S PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE BETWEEN KAMALA HARRIS AND DONALD TRUMP. WE WILL SEE HOW MANY WILL TUNE IN FOR TONIGHT’S DEBATE.

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