A record-breaking 67.1 million television viewers tuned in to watch the first debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, according to media research firm Nielsen. Hosted by ABC News, the debate covered a range of important issues including the economy, immigration, and abortion. The viewership figures surpassed the 51 million who watched the previous debate between Trump and President Joe Biden in June.
The majority of the audience, totaling 41.3 million viewers, were aged 55 and older, with 16.9 million viewers in the 35-54 age group and 6.5 million in the 18-34 age group. The debate drew more viewers than the 2016 debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton, although it fell short of the 84 million viewers who tuned in for that event.
While the Nielsen data only accounts for television viewers, the debate likely reached additional audiences through social media and streaming platforms. Despite this, Harris was declared the winner by 63% of viewers in a CNN flash poll, with just 37% saying Trump had a better night.
The high viewership numbers demonstrate the strong interest in this election, with the debate shaping up to be a pivotal moment in the campaign. The strong performance by Harris has set the stage for a highly anticipated rematch between the two candidates, with the next debate expected to draw even more attention.
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