2024 Election Debate Ratings Soar

The highly anticipated 2024 presidential election debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump drew an estimated 67.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen data. This viewership figure surpassed the previous Biden-Trump debate, which attracted around 51.3 million viewers and effectively derailed Biden's re-election bid.

• The debate was hosted by ABC and simulcast on 17 networks, including NBC and MSNBC.
• Over 6.4 million viewers were aged 18 to 34, while 16.8 million were in the 35 to 54 age group.
• The largest share of viewers, at 41.3 million, was over 55 years old.

Comparison with Previous Presidential Debates

While the 2024 election debate ratings were impressive, they fell short of the record set in 2016, when around 84 million people watched the Trump-Hillary Clinton debate. Additionally, the first Biden-Trump debate in 2020 drew 73.1 million viewers.

Debate Format and Moderation

The debate, held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, was co-moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis of ABC News. The moderators faced praise from Democrats for fact-checking Trump's false claims but were assailed by Republicans for the same reason.

Candidate Performances and Reactions

The debate represented a crucial opportunity for both Harris and Trump to present their cases to the country in the final stretch of an unusually abbreviated general election campaign.

• Vice President Kamala Harris drew praise for her sharp attacks on Trump's record on abortion and national security.
• Donald Trump's conspiracy-heavy performance prompted concern from his political allies as he attempts to win a second term in the White House.

Impact on the 2024 Presidential Election

The high viewership of the 2024 election debate between Harris and Trump highlights the intense interest and scrutiny surrounding this pivotal election cycle. The candidates' performances and the issues discussed during the debate are likely to shape the narrative and influence voters' decisions in the final weeks leading up to Election Day.