Projo Politics Blog

NEW YORK (AP) -- After a two-day cliffhanger over whether their first debate would take place, John McCain and Barack Obama take aim at the ultimate record: most-watched presidential debate ever.

The standard was set in 1980, when 80.6 million people watched that campaign's only debate between President Jimmy Carter and Republican challenger Ronald Reagan. TV audiences that big typically gather only once a year, for the Super Bowl.

Doubt over the debate even happening, which ended Friday when McCain said he would attend, probably heightened interest and reminded people that it's on, said Robert Thompson, head of Syracuse University's Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture.

He predicted the 80 million mark will be topped.

"I was in the grocery store two hours ago and I heard three separate occurrences of people asking, 'Is the debate happening tonight?'" Thompson said. "People are buzzing about (it)."

There are three debates scheduled between Republican McCain and Democrat Obama. The potential vice presidents will debate Thursday.

"I'll bet you that all three debates" break the record, said Bob Schieffer, CBS News chief Washington correspondent. "I really think people are interested right now."

ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC and C-SPAN all planned to televise the debate.

AP Photo

 Tags  McCain Obama presidential debate TV ratings

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Payday Loan Advocate said:

Elite politicians, including presidential candidate Barack Obama, are trying to limit access to on-demand, short term financial assistance in America. Some cities and towns are even placing restrictions on where these legitimate payday loan companies can establish their businesses. Even worse, several states including Georgia and North Carolina have successfully imposed complete bans on the payday loan industry, and several more states are following in their footsteps. Nationwide, American citizens are struggling to have their voices heard. They want to fight legislation that would wipe out the payday loan industry in the United State. Obama, and many other misled political officials, are advocating for an all-out ban of the payday loan industry for the sake of personal political gain. Their desire to eliminate the payday loan industry holds no regard for the people who need financial help in this depressed economy.

Link | October 7, 2008 4:48 AM
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