With the frontrunner taking center stage, Wednesday's Democratic presidential debate picked up a larger audience than the night prior, although viewership for both events still paled in comparison to June's opening round.
About 10.72 million people tuned into CNN's telecast of the second night of presidential debates on Wednesday, The Hollywood Reporter reports, up from the 8.69 million who watched the telecast on Tuesday night.
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This improvement wasn't surprising considering Wednesday's debate was the one with the race's frontrunner, former Vice President Joe Biden. It also featured Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), and a rematch between the two was anticipated after Harris slammed Biden for his record on busing in the most memorable moment of June's debate. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) were among the participants in Tuesday's debate, while other Wednesday participants included Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).
In June, the Democratic debates drew about 15 million viewers on the first night and about 18 million on the second night; as was the case this time, the higher-rated debate in June was the one featuring Biden. President Trump on Wednesday tweeted with glee about the Tuesday debate drawing "very low ratings," although a decline had been expected, as one also took place between the first and second debates during the 2016 Democratic presidential primary.
It is true, however, that viewership for the 2016 Republican presidential primary debates featuring then-candidate Trump were far larger than these Democratic debates, with the first one in August 2015 drawing a massive audience of 24 million people, notes the Reporter. In reference to this week's ratings, Trump tweeted on Wednesday, "they're desperate for Trump!"
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