Debate Ratings

The first Bush-Kerry debate had about 63 million viewers. That's a respectable increase over the numbers from 1996 and 2000, but probably a bit below that in 1992 when you control for the increase in population. That's not bad. I'll be interested to see if viewship goes up in the second debate like it did in 1992.

2000
Debate 1: 46.6
Debate 2: 37.6
Debate 3: 37.7

1996
Debate 1: 36.1
Debate 2: 36.3

1992
Debate 1: 62.4
Debate 2: 69.9
Debate 3: 66.9

1988
Debate 1: 65.1
Debate 2: 67.3

1984
Debate 1: 65.1
Debate 2: 67.3

1980
Debate 1: 80.6

1976
Debate 1: 69.7
Debate 2: 63.9
Debate 3: 62.7