2016 Primary Election: Republicans Easily Outdrawing Democrats in Debate Ratings and Voters Turnouts

[Arkain2K]

The eight Republican debates so far have drawn significantly higher average viewership than the six Democratic debates.

According to an analysis of data from the television analytics firm Nielsen, the Democratic debates have drawn on average about 9.2 million viewers, while the Republican debates have brought in roughly 16.2 million per forum.

Thursday’s Democratic debate hosted by PBS drew a combined 8.03 million views. It was broadcast on both PBS and CNN and was the third highest rated Democratic debate so far this cycle.

The Democratic National Committee has been criticized for its handling of the debate schedule. The party initially limited the number of debates to six, with two scheduled after the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. The initial schedule also put three of the six debates on weekends—including the Saturday before Christmas and the Sunday of Martin Luther King Day weekend in January.

The DNC’s schedule drew fierce criticism from former candidate Gov. Martin O’Malley. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders last month agreed to add four more official debates, bringing the total number of forums to 10.

The most watched Democratic debate was the first one held in October, which drew 15.8 million viewers. The lowest-rated was the MSNBC debate last week which drew only 4.5 million views.

No Republican debate has yet drawn less than 10 million viewers. The lowest-watched GOP debate was the January Fox Business debate, which drew 11.1 million views. The highest rated debate aired on Fox in October and drew approximately 24 million views.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/...tly-draw-more-viewers-than-democratic-events/

 

[VivaRevolution]

Of course you have higher turnout, there is a candidate for everyone. You want a women, Fiorinna, you want a tea-partier Cruz, you want a controversial figure Trump, you want the status quo Bush, you want a black nuerosurgeon Carson.

As far as the ratings......Trump


Not saying I can completely explain this away. This would be encouraging to me if i was a Republican, but get back to me when you are down to 2 candidates, and Trump's newness has worn off a bit.

 

[Hallelujah]

Left right left right lol the proles never learn.

 

[Anung Un Rama]

I can't say this doesn't effect Sanders, but its proof that the DNC doesn't have this bag with the anointed one, either.

 

[ncordless]

It will be interesting to see what happens when Trump goes indy. How much of the ratings nad new voters go with him?

 

[Anung Un Rama]

It will be interesting to see what happens when Trump goes indy. How much of the ratings nad new voters go with him?

I bet he takes his 30% from the GOP plus some independents.
Trump supporters are in the zone right now.

 

[Arkain2K]

I can't say this doesn't effect Sanders, but its proof that the DNC doesn't have this bag with the anointed one, either.

Yeah, I don't know how people look at those charts and give Trump the credit for the DNC's massive drop in viewership and primary voters turnouts, unless they're actually insenuating that registered Democrats are skipping the DNC debates to watch and vote for the GOP.

 

[SouthoftheAndes]

I don't think there high turnout is just because of Trump. They the Republicans seem to normally have higher turn outs so I heard especially in the midterms.

For some reason the Democrat base doesn't show up it seems. I wonder why.

 

[SouthoftheAndes]

If only Bloomberg ran. Biden in the race as well would of really helped.

 

[Lead]

I remember the crazy turnouts for 2008 on the Dem side between Obama and Hillary. Was definitely foreshadowing for where the GE was going.

 

[ncordless]

If only Bloomberg ran. Biden in the race as well would of really helped.

Bloomberg still might. As an indy. If trump goes indy, id expect bloomy to hop in as well.