Republicans draw fewer viewers than Democrats

Joe Lieberman, the Democratic senator who stumped for John McCain last night at the Republican National Convention, can't be happy with today's Nielsen Television Ratings.

The survey found that around 21.5 million people watched the Republican gathering unfold Tuesday night. That's 4.3 million fewer people than the 26 million viewers who tuned in last week for Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention.

It's also 600,000 people lower than Day 2 of the 2004 Republican Convention.

The survey did not measure the number of viewers of the first night of the GOP convention, which was shortened because of Hurricane Gustav. As we reported last week, the opening night of the Democratic National Convention drew more than 22 million viewers, a 20% larger audience than in 2004, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Nielsen also reported that African American viewing of the GOP convention's second night (2.1 million) is less than half of what is was for the Democratic convention (4.6 million).

Like Day 2 in Denver, where more women than men tuned in to watch Hillary Clinton deliver her endorsement of Barack Obama, more women (11.2 million) than men (9.5 million) watched the GOP convention last night.

-- Kate Linthicum

Comments

[tlsmith1963]

Who wants to watch the Republicans' boring convention? From what I've seen, everyone in the audience (delegates) looks glum. Compare that to the Democrats' convention, where the audience looked happy & excited.

[blah]

agreed. plus everyone looks old. i am not super young, but hey i want to see fresh faces excited about the future. and the speakers are dull.

[Al]

Reality aside: the visual representation (sans commentary) of the two conventions actually marks out a difference. Look at the historic footage back to the 50s: the Dems had the first gathering that actually featured and was filled with women, people of colour, gays and lesbians, disabled people. The GOP offers the same old same old, Palin notwithstanding. Visually - there is a choice - a visceral one - framed up in this election. Never underestimate the basic, emotive reaction of US voters to visible difference, new demographic realities notwithstanding.

[blahtoyou2]

Yea - those 'Crats sure had some fresh faces.. NOT

[tutto bene]

Because I was still working on a project, I went back and forth, watching the convention and working. From what I saw, GOP high priests served up talking points to the lemming GOP church. Giuliani's speech was peppered the most with them. Shame that Ron Paul was scratched completely from the convention; He correctly refused to eliminate the part of his platform calling for the immediate withdrawal of all troops, including all mercenaries like Blackwater (name changed) and KBR from the phonied-up Bush invasion and occupation of Iraq. It's important to withdraw all Western troops/mercenaries, otherwise the war can be waged indefinately.

I guess Rightwingers know that he could win the nomination by vote should he be allowed to make his patriotic and cost-effictive anti-war case. He is da'man, but only on that issue, otherwise he would want you to build your own school and your own hospital.

Hey, Palin is all about 2012, not about now, and the GOP knows this. It knows that it will lose its current run at the WH. Between now and then, the slick and photogenic Reagan-like, Palin will be groomed to be slicker and more knowable to the public in preperation for the run against the aged and, by then, way more wrinkled and stumpier Hillary Clinton in the hope that Palin beauty will beat out Hillary substance. It worked with Reagan, and it should work with Palin. Note that Palin is a another warmonger. That's not my America.

Patriots say, "God Bless America but impeach G. W. Bush." Rightwing subversives say, "Support the troops but keep them in the war."

[Juanita Corona]

John McCain is running for president to represent people from all walks of life United States!!!; however at the GOP convention, with the exception of Cowboy Troy, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Americans of varied nationalities did not seem to be in attendance. Is the GOP still the club of the "good ole boys with money"?

[john n. perez]

speaking stirictly objectively, what a boaring group of speakers...talk about a courtesy " toilet flush" aplause!

Enough, already with the daggers at the Washington establishment-hey, Republicans,you're bashing your own Pres., and party....they've been in control for the past eight years. What we have is what they delivered....war, deficit, unregulated lending for housing, unregulated auto industry (SUV's) with horrible
milage performance, late response to global warming, neglected domestic infrastructure and the list goes on. Get a Grip!

[Max]

The Dems can bash all the insignificant stuff all they want, as usual it has nothing to do with the issues and more about remarks about the lack of diversity of the crowd, that the stage isnt as nice, Putin's hair style, etc etc etc.

The Dems are going to lose. AGAIN. Cant wait...

[David Blackburn]

The cameras panned what seemed like a sea of practically white-only faces.

[Vanessa]

same white rich people show up every time. this doesn't impress me. same old mcbush.

[Joe Shmoe]

The Republicans are bereft of ideas and integrity. They think they can keep playing Ronald Reagan's greatest hits, as if his trickle down notions hadn't been thoroughly discredited by now.

Oh, and I love the idea that the Republicans represent "Change." They must think we aren't just stupid; they must think we are insane.

[topgun]

The republican party has lost its energy. It shows in how boring their convention is. Sarah Palin has brought energy, but with all of the scandals coming to light that won't last long!

[marvenette]

The RNC does not represent the diverse population of the US and therefore draws less viewers than the DNC. The RNC, in contrast to the DNC, is the party of the WASP and promotes division, fear, and hate. Last nights convention was a replication of the 1992 convention, which was exclusive and outright racist.

I pray we'll not be cursed with 4 more years of the same old McBush policies, I don't think the country can take it.

[Me]

Why does race always have to be an issue?? (btw-there were diverse people/ and races in the crowd at the RNC)
Who cares if your.... white/black/asian/hispanic/etc
....THAT DOES NOT measure a man or define who you are....ultimately we all have the same basic needs, we are all equal....Unlike how the media/hollywood tends to portray....
Siince when did we start living according to the "mindsets" of the past anyways??!? Oh wait....we are....everyone wants freebees and pity....seriously, Get over it already!!! Love people for who they are...and Be the best you can be!!!!
Each "american" can change the sterotypes by changing their "perception" "their individual thinking"
and holding on to the CORE values of just being a decent and kind human being..and not living your life according to how the media or hollywood or you past says you should live....and THEY all seem to be the BIGGEST influence on people.....why is that??

Measure a man by their character-their accomplishments- their consistancy in what they say-their patriotism-their intergrity-Choose a leader who you don't have to question their patriotism and their connections to radicals, who seek to "cleanse" the world from people not like them or don't believe the way they do...
Don't measure a man by their party'-"dem" or "rep" or by the color of their skin.....Just b'c their white and republican doesn't mean they'd be a good president or a Bad one.....all republicans aren't the same....shocker I know...but you saying that is a sterotype in itself...and racist....hmmm???
NEITHER SHOULD IT MEAN...that just b'c someone is black and Democrat automatically is going to bring Change....the only change it would bring is visible change...which again....adds to my point of TAKE OFF THE COLOR STEROTYPES!!!!
I don't see Obama doing anything "positive" for the US or it's people....He can not make tough decisions-and its shown in his voting while in the senate....He can't even show simple human courteous and gratitude to our military and our flag.....and to say he would side with Muslims first?? He should be siding with AMERICANS first----He is running for PRESIDENT OF THE UNTIED STATES, isn't he???

MY vote has nothing to do with party or color----there are things I agree and disagree with both parties---but my vote has everything to do with who I think can LEAD this fragile country in the next 4 years ahead....NOW is not the time to have OBAMA-with NO experience while we're in the middle of war in the middle east.
His ideas on foreign policy and talking to terriorists is frightening...

Futhermore, he has no substance, he scares me...and I don't trust him with my safety nor my families....
Things with him just don't add up....AND most of us could agree with that... if we would just take off all the "HATS" and chips off our shoulders...and forget color and "party"

Do whats best for this country and go with your gut....
whatever that may be

[99654]

GOP Motto: "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American Public":

Hey Max: Must have been a great 8 years for you because you are so unfazed about:
health care costs ; spiraling fossil fuel prices the result of an energy "policy" dictated by Big Oil's intent on derailing alternative and renewable sources of energy; hundreds of billions in tax cuts to the richest Americans ( 1/2 of 1% of the population), and bubkis for the rest; $250 billion in surpluses in Clinton's last 2 years in office, and a projected $2 trillion in surpluses through 2005, that Bush not only totally squandered but has added several trillions of dollars to the national deficit; a war of choice based on a pack of lies; a nuclear Iran; $500 billion leaving the U.S to some of the world's worst regimes (Saudis, Iran, Russia, Venezuela); a gullible President who looked into Putin's soul and saw sweetness and light.