According to media analytics firm Nielsen, the debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump attracted an estimated 67.1 million viewers.
The estimated viewership was higher than the ratings for the late June contest between Trump and President Joe Biden, which drew about 51.3 million viewers — and effectively doomed Biden’s re-election campaign.
According to Nielsen, ABC hosted and broadcast the Harris-Trump showdown, which was simulcast on 17 networks, including NBC and MSNBC.
According to Nielsen, there were more than 6.4 million viewers between the ages of 18 and 34; another 16.8 million were between the ages of 35 and 54. But viewers over 55 made up the largest portion, with more than 41.3 million viewers.
Tuesday’s ratings fell short of the record set in 2016, when about 84 million people watched Trump face off against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The first Trump-Biden debate of 2020 drew 73.1 million.
Nielsen previously reported that 57.5 million people watched Harris and Trump, adding that final numbers would be released later. The data did not include the number of people who followed the debate on social media, news websites or streaming platforms.
The event, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, was moderated by ABC News’ David Muir and Linsey Davis, who were praised by Democrats and criticized by Republicans for fact-checking Trump’s false claims.
The debate was one of the biggest opportunities for the two candidates to present their positions to the country in the final phase of an unusually short election campaign.
Harris has won praise for her sharp attacks on Trump’s record on abortion and national security. Trump’s conspiracy theory-heavy performance has raised concerns among his political allies as he seeks a second term in the White House.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
