Nielsen says 51.4 million watch VP debate

Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin participate in the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. / AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

NEW YORK Paul Ryan debating Joe Biden wasn't quite the same television draw as Sarah Palin versus Biden was four years ago.

An estimated 51.4 million people watched Ryan, the Republican challenger, debate Vice President Biden, a Democrat, on Thursday night, said Nielsen, the company that measures television audiences.

Four years ago, just under 70 million people watched Palin debate Biden. But that was unusual; it was a debate that had more viewers than even any presidential contest dating back to 1992.

• Fact-checking the vice presidential debate
• Biden's debate style: Just "Joe being Joe"?
• Why were VP debate poll results so different?

Excluding 2008, the Biden-Ryan debate had a larger audience than any other vice presidential debate since George Bush was matched up with Geraldine Ferraro in 1984, Nielsen said.

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The entire 2012 vice presidential debate

Last week, an estimated 67 million TV viewers saw President Barack Obama in his first debate against Mitt Romney. The two men debate again next week.

• Full coverage: The Debates

More people saw the vice presidential debate on Fox News Channel than any other network. It had an estimated 10.02 million viewers, CBS had 8.31 million, ABC had 8.29 million, NBC had 7.85 million, Fox broadcasting had 5.05 million, MSNBC had 4.38 million, CNN had 4.15 million and PBS had 2 million, Nielsen said.

[todaymessage]

If I have a choice, I want none of DEM/GOP candidates. This race is a choice of less damage. For my children, I don't want government decide what they can do with their own body. For myself, I want the safenet as is when I retire. I don't want worthless voucher because I know the insurance companies will raise the fee so high, the voucher would be worthless. Look around, how many 65+ people in US don't have pre-existing conditions. Do you really want to take the chance playing russian roulette with the voucher. As for the foreign police, does US need another war? Does US need to cut education to build up miltary? The GOP platform will do more damage than Obama. So, Romney/Ryan ticket is not right for my family.

a 1% living in 99% world.

[hypnotoad72]

Impressive. People would rather spend $80/mo for Cable just to get FOX News Channel and watch it there, then on any of the comparatively free non-cable, broadcast stations...

I hope they're not the same people who bash the reckless spending in government... =D

[hypnotoad72]

Impressive. People would rather spend $80/mo for Cable just to get FOX News Channel and watch it there, then on any of the comparatively free non-cable, broadcast stations...

I hope they're not the same people who bash the reckless spending in government... =D

[Rldvs]

So 51 million so Biden whoop Ryan ! No wonder Rush the pill head was freaking out today !

[mikesfilms]

Romney Debate lie: We don't need Obamacare. We have the world's best health system. We have the Mayo clinic. Sick and broke? Try this: Just call the Mayo Clinic and they'll sign you in and send a helicopter to pick you up.

[hypnotoad72]

Romney's double-lie... he made the system he has bashed!


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/10/11/romneys-advisers-met-with-obama-to-help-craft-obama-care/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/aroy/2011/10/11/how-mitt-romneys-health-care-experts-helped-design-obamacare/

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2012/mar/20/romneycare-and-obamacare-can-you-tell-difference/

Even better,

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/06/conservatives-attack-mitt-romney-michael-leavitt-transition-team-obamacare-exchanges.php

Best of all:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/05/romney-slams-president-obamas-health-care-law/

Two years later:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57403492-503544/on-2-year-mark-romney-goes-all-out-against-obamas-health-care-law/?tag=contentMain;contentBody

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Ryan looked like a young con man lying to his older victim hoping he gets away with the scam before the victim realize they've been scammed. However, the victim was laughing and smiling during the scam attempt because he knew he was being scammed / lied too.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you disguised as sheep, but in their hearts are vicious wolves.

Perfectly explains Romney and Ryan as they attack America's social safety net.

[Jayrizzo]

You are mixed up---This Bible verse applies absolutely to Obama & Biden.

[clb2012now]

I wanted a Vice President who would take serious the circumstances of America and the world. Evidently, dead Americans are funny, hurting Americans are funny, wanting to repair our social security or medicare is funny. What does Biden take seriously? The laughing Biden was just as bad as the silent Obama.

Biden wants to tax the millionaires and billionaires. I call that a success tax. Our tax system is already progressive. His boss wants to tax those who make above $200K. Yet Biden objected to a progressive system for Medicare. That Medicare premium support being proposed would be need based. Meaning those who make less get more premium support than those who make more. Right now, all get Medicare at the same cost no matter what their income. Hmmmm, something is odd here.

I want a President that can stand up for himself, his record, his policies and AMERICA. Obama did not. I was not surprised by Obama during the debate but many were. So to those that were, which President is going to show up for work tomorrow? Obama does not attend meeting with his job council, doesn't have department meeting, hadn't been having his security briefings.

What I did NOT hear in the debate was what Obama is going to do with his next term and his "flexibility" He already goes around Congress so that is no deterrent. He refused to help other Democrats with their elections so that is no deterrent. What is he going to do? What plans? How does he expect to accomplish them?

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Save it!

Republicans don't give a damn about ordinary Americans. Wake up Rip Van Winkle can't you see from their actions and legislation republicans don't care about anything but corporations, big oil, big pharma and the super rich.

[attygilbert]

Thank you for your intelligent remarks. It is unfortunate that our liberal media seems to be more interested in influencing the polls and the election than simply looking at this debate, honestly and fairly. If Senator Paul Ryan continuously laughed, rudely interrupted, and did not have the simple courtesy of publicly thanking his opponent at the end of the debate--he would have been verbally crucified. I coached debaters and judged debates -- even high school students have more courtesy to their opponents than our Vice President on such important issues. It is little wonder that there has been such animosity and no compromise on issues in Congress. This is not leadership, it is as disingenuous as President Obama wishing his wife a Happy Anniversary. This was simply for the benefit of votes. Sorry, Mr. President, smart Americans will see through this chicanery. To borrow, a word from Biden, this was truly "malarkey."

What does the rest of the World think of A Vice President, who is laughing, when we have experienced the Great Recession during his term of office? I was sickened by his thoughtless reaction to the millions of Americans without work. Please Mr. Vice President act least act like a leader and gentleman.

[shawnpminor]

The smartest thing to come out of Bidens mouth was a weener

[flindependent]

Joe Biden's conduct in the vice presidential debate was an absolute disgrace. I cannot see how anyone witnessing this rude, condescending, disgusting behavior would think he is worthy of his office. The fact that the President congratulated him afterward casts doubt on his judgement as well. In addition to his constant interruptions and disrespectful laughing and smirking, Biden demonstrated a lack of understanding of the seriousness of our fiscal dilemma and of what is needed to prevent this country from facing the economic disaster that some of the European countries face presently. The collapse of the Greek or Spanish economies could bring down the European Union. A collapse of the US economy would be infinitely more serious and would plunge the whole world economy order into chaos. I don't think Biden has any kind of in-depth understanding of the financial system or macroeconomics. He should no longer be in a position to assume the presidency. He certainly is not fit for that office.

[BigBlivefromny]

Flindependent, it's very amusing that you judged Biden that way since i felt he TOTALLY copied Romney's smirking stupid grin to EVERYTHING Obama said in their debate. But i guess you tuned that out and see what you want to see. Romney was a buffoon w/out a single fact as a weapon. He's a great salesman, and apparently a lot of you bought his snake oil. Vote for Romne, just one of the huys MAKING MILLIONS SENDING YOUR JOBS OVERSEAS, boy are you people blinded!!!!!

[joelwisch2]

I believe it is clear Biden could not deal with the enormous problems the Obama administration has created, and so instead.. distracted everyone with his gyration. I need answers.. I sure don't need Biden trying to play psych games to cover up.