Democratic debate viewership numbers were good… if you’re grading on a curve.

I understand that CNN is trying its best to gild their lily, but come on.

CNN’s Tuesday night debate averaged 15.3 million viewers, easily making it the highest-rated Democratic debate ever.

Primary debates at this point in past election cycles have averaged 2 to 5 million viewers. But there’s something special about this election — something that has a lot more viewers paying attention.

The Democratic candidate has one chance to win next year, and it’s this way: by sparking the same relative levels of enthusiasm and interest in 2016 that Barack Obama managed in 2008.  Getting 3x as many viewers this go round as compared to 2008 is nice, but when the other side is racking up 5x, it’s bad news for you. And it doesn’t matter why they tuned in; it matters that they tuned in, and kept watching.

But, hey, never mind me.

Moe Lane

5 thoughts on “Democratic debate viewership numbers were good… if you’re grading on a curve.”

  1. I’m not a mathematician but wouldn’t viewers between 2-5 million be a “range”, not an “average”? I used to think journalists were supposed to be good with words.

    1. It is hard to be very good at many things at once. Right now journalists are focusing on doing everything they can to make sure Democrats win. Everything else is secondary.

  2. Gilding the lily is embellishing something that is already sufficient in and of itself.
    I believe the metaphor you’re looking for is polishing a turd.

    1. Or perhaps a knob…
      .
      Judging by Trump’s twitter feed, at least some were watching for any calamities…
      .
      If CNN wanted ratings, they should have invited Lessig.
      .
      Mew

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