Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 06:37 pm
Republican debate viewership has dropped by 10 million people since the first GOP presidential debate, and more Americans watched the Democratic debate on CNN than watched the Republican debate on CNBC.
According to TVNewser:
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According to Nielsen fast national ratings, last night’s third GOP debate was watched by 14 million viewers, making it the most-watched CNBC program ever.
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The first debate of this cycle, on Fox News, drew 24 million viewers, and was the most-watched non-sports cable program ever. The second debate on CNN was the second most-watched, averaging 22.9 million.
The first Democratic debate of this cycle, on CNN, drew 15.8 million viewers on Oct. 13.
Common sense suggested that much of the early ratings boost for the Republican debates came from the novelty of seeing reality television star Donald Trump on the debate stage.
As time has gone on the gimmick has worn off, and Republican debate ratings are declining. Fourteen million people is still a big number for CNBC, but more people tuned in to watch Clinton and Sanders talk policy than tuned in for part three of the Republican circus.
The Republican candidates outside of Trump remain devoid of personality and charisma-challenged. This Republican field makes every debate torture. Even with Trump, the third Republican debate was sleep inducing. Desperate candidates from Rubio to Cruz to Christie all pulled from the Gingrich 2012 playbook and attacked the moderators and the media.
There was little difference between the Republican debates of the previous two presidential cycles and the CNBC debate.
Democrats have the bigger stars and the more interesting candidates. The Republican debate ratings were fueled by the Donald Trump circus, but as the country views Trump as just another Republican, the debate audience is shrinking.
Republicans can blame the CNBC moderators, but the reality is that tens of millions of Americans are already bored with what Republicans are offering.
Viewers have seen this freakshow before, which why they are turning off the Republican debates.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
