15.8 million tune in to CBS, BET for SC Democratic debate

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Tuesday night’s Democratic debate in South Carolina on CBS and BET delivered 15.8 million viewers, according to early numbers from Nielsen Media Research.

The total number represents a viewership drop-off of more than 20 percent from last week’s Democratic Debate in Nevada, which marked the first time former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was on the debate stage.

However, Tuesday’s chaotic event from Charleston still ranks among the most-watched debates of the 2019-2020 primary season.

The most-watched primary debate ever occurred on Fox News in August 2015, when more than 24 million people watched then-candidate Donald Trump in his first debate. 

CBS moderators on Tuesday were on the receiving end of pointed criticism from both the left and right for not stopping the candidates from speaking over one another and continuing to make arguments well past their allotted time.

 

The South Carolina primary is Saturday, just days before 15 states head to the polls for Super Tuesday.

Tags 2020 Democrats Democratic debate Donald Trump Michael Bloomberg Mika Brzezinski ratings

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