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Romney Bombs: Convention Speech Draws 13 Million Fewer Viewers than McCain in ’08
Mitt Romney’s convention speech was watched by 25 million Americans, which is 13 million fewer viewers than watched John McCain accept the Republican nomination in 2008.
Mitt Romney’s inability to captivate the nation resulted in a gain of only 5 million viewers from the second night to the third night of the Republican convention. The Romney campaign was counting on widespread viewership, outside of the GOP, but 39% of their audience came from Fox News. Fox was the top network with over 9 million viewers, followed by ABC (4.44 million), NBC (3.85 million), CBS (3.73 million), CNN (2.33 million), and MSNBC (1.88 million). In contrast, over 38 million Americans watched John McCain’s speech in 2008.
Every network lost viewers compared to 2008. According to TVNewser, “Fox News was just about flat compared to 2008, losing around -2% of its viewership, while NBC (-56%), ABC (-26%), CBS (-30%), CNN (-52%)and MSNBC (-25%) were down mid double digits.” These are the consequences of having a nominee who has no positive message of his own.
To draw 13 million fewer viewers than McCain, and tens of millions fewer viewers than Sarah Palin is an embarrassment. If America is really as upset at Obama as Republicans claim they are, then why aren’t they lining up behind Mitt Romney? You would think that if the country was itching to make a chance it would be reflected in the ratings for Romney’s acceptance speech.
John McCain was no ball of charisma, but he was able to get people to tune in to his speech. This election lack the enthusiasm of 2008, but there is no proof anywhere that the American people are ready to elect Mitt Romney. The pundit class is chattering about how Romney was a able to soften his image, but it doesn’t matter if the American people didn’t tune in to watch. It looks like Americans have made their minds up on Mitt Romney, and they aren’t interested.
2012 isn’t 2008 and nobody should be surprised if the Democrats have lower ratings this time around too, but Obama is the incumbent. He is leading. Mitt Romney needed a moment where he grabbed the nation’s attention and looked like a credible replacement for Obama.
Instead, he looked more like a pretender than a contender. No matter how hard Republicans try to sell it, it is obvious that voters are never going to fall in love with Mitt Romney, and the ratings show that those cries that Obama has to go aren’t resonating much outside of Republican circles.
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12 Responses to Romney Bombs: Convention Speech Draws 13 Million Fewer Viewers than McCain in ’08
enough with lies
Aug. 31st, 2012 at 7:10 pm
Everyone know who ‘s in charge of USA media. Someone should tell Netanyahu that the game is over. America will vote for Obama AND OBAMA ONLY.
TigerLily
Sep. 1st, 2012 at 2:56 am
Romney and Ryan are chronic liars! NO ONE WILL VOTE FOR THAT!
Shiva (Moderator)
Sep. 1st, 2012 at 9:00 am
They have a smell about them that will last.
lageorgia
Sep. 1st, 2012 at 1:59 pm
I hope
mikeyhatesit
Sep. 1st, 2012 at 3:21 am
If I heard correctly, Honey Boo Boo netted ten million viewers more than Mitt. I don’t quite know if that’s funny or disturbing…
Sara
Sep. 1st, 2012 at 10:38 pm
A little bit of both Mikey!
HighPeaks
Sep. 1st, 2012 at 6:34 am
Of course, the fact that more Americans appear to be interested in watching Honey Boo Boo than the Republican convention may instead mean that they are becoming even less engaged in the political process, less apt to exercise critical thinking in their choice of a candidate, and even more likely to be the sort of uninformed sheep that the GOP relies on in order to win elections.
lageorgia
Sep. 1st, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Can you even believe that family got a reality show? I am embarrassed to live in the same state as them. But then I did grow up in the City of Bloomfield Hills on the same street as the Romney family…hummm which is actually more embarrassing?
Anne
Sep. 1st, 2012 at 9:40 am
Even many Republicans don’t like Willard Romney. However, a number of them will hold their noses on election day and vote for him for no other reason than their blind, unreasoning hatred for Barack Obama. He has proven since Day One of this election cycle that he is not presidential material. As he himself once said, people wouldn’t vote for him if they knew what his plans were. Actually, we do know more than enough about his plans, since he has firmly aligned himself with the most reactionary forces in this country. They own him, and he will willingly do their bidding in return for a chance to add the title of
“president” to his resume.
Steven Fishman
Sep. 1st, 2012 at 2:23 pm
I’m not surprised that the numbers were lower than 2008, but 13 million is not a good sign for the Romney campaign. Ryan lying like a trooper the night before, and Romney not having any real message except that I’m better than Obama will not fly on election day. I also think that people like Adelson, and the Koch brothers who will donate hundreds of millions to their Super Pacs to defeat Obama will come back and hurt Romney. These guys are trying to buy the election, and the American people seem to be rejecting that. I’m also surprised that nobody from the Bush administration except Condi Rice were invited to attend. The GOP can’t change history, Bush was President for 8 years and the meltdown happen on his watch because of his failed policies. It’s these same policies that Romney wants to expose the American people too again.
John
Sep. 1st, 2012 at 3:26 pm
Not only that, but it seemed to me that the crowd in the convention center was far less enthusiastic during the speech itself, as compared to McCain’s reception 4 years ago. McCain was much a true Military hero and frankly was much more of a gentleman. However, I think that a lot of it did hve to do w/ his selection of Sarah Palin as running mate. Ryan is clearly picked to reach out to the Tea Party, but he does not have the same visceral connection with them that Palin had. A lot of them may not even bother voting, as I think they didn’t back in 2008 when it became clear that there was a rift btwn McCain and Palin. I remember going to Palin rallies in 2008. She drew a crowd of true fanatics who by that this (October) were there for HER more than for McCain. Ryan cannot attract that type of fanaticism.
Jacqueline
Sep. 8th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
The GOP really screwed up. It is time for a third party to develop because after the election in 2008 and this election, the American People are fed up with the fact that the ruling class own both parties. I, too am through with both parties because of the likes of the candidates that they are putting forth to lead this nation and to protect the welfare of their wallets!
WRITE IN A VOTE FOR RON PAUL 2012….He is our only chance to take back our country.