Ratings for the second Republican presidential debate tanked compared to those for the first one, bringing in fewer than 10 million viewers.
Nielsen data released on Thursday show that 9.5 million people, 6.7 million on Fox News, 1.8 million on Fox Business, and another 813,000 on Univision tuned in to hear what the seven GOP presidential hopefuls had to say about every issue from the crisis on the border to the depressing economic state of the country under President Joe Biden, the New York Times reported.
Wednesday’s numbers not only show a 25% drop in viewership compared to the 12.8 million who tuned in to watch the first GOP primary, but they pale in comparison to those who were interested in the GOP presidential debates in 2015. The first one held during summer 2015 was hosted by Fox News and brought in nearly 24 million viewers, while the second one, which was hosted by CNN, saw 22.9 million people, the NYT noted.
Second GOP debate ratings: Viewership drops by more than 25 percent https://t.co/R1k10334iA
— POLITICO (@politico) September 28, 2023
Despite the struggling numbers, the debate Wednesday night was the most-watched cable or network television program on Wednesday, the NYT noted.
The numbers aren’t good for Republican hopefuls like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, or Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who spent the two hours trying to have a breakout moment that would allow them to catch up to former President Donald Trump has, who is currently leading in the polls, POLITICO noted.
Trump, who has so far refused to the participate in the debates, was mentioned Wednesday night when former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie attempted to take a dig at the former president, nicknaming him Donald Duck.
The second debate itself has also been slammed by conservative commentators as failing to include issues and questions that matter to the Republican voters.
Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro didn’t hold back his thoughts about it, calling it a “s**t show.”
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“That debate was a s***show, obviously,” Shapiro posted on X. “But it’s also clear that there are only two candidates on that stage running for president: DeSantis and Haley. Quick grades:DeSantis: B+, Haley: B-, Vivek [Ramaswamy]: C+, Christie: C, Pence: D, Scott: D, [North Dakota Gov. Doug] Burgum: Wut.”
Independent journalist Megyn Kelly posted a message on her social media shortly after it started,” The lighting is terrible. The Qs lack any charge which is why we are getting these boring answers. The Mike Pence sniffing is weird. Vivek needs a haircut. DeSantis looks sweaty. ‘Donald Duck’ line was lame. Certainly hope it gets better from here.”
