Nearly 9.5 million viewers tuned in to Wednesday’s second Republican presidential primary debate, according to data from Nielsen Media Research.
The two-hour event, moderated by Fox Business Network’s Stuart Varney, Fox News Channel’s Dana Perino and Univision’s Ilia Calderon, was the most-watched program in linear television, digital and streaming Wednesday.
The event drew an average of 9,323,000 viewers, notably including 1,888,000 individuals from the highly sought-after 25-54 age demographic.
The debate, held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., was Fox Business Network’s highest-rated telecast since 2016, with ratings that outpaced 60% of debates in the 2016 and 2020 cycle.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Gov. and Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum participated in the forum, which former President Donald Trump – the 2024 GOP front-runner – decided not to attend.
Viewership was down 25% from the first GOP debate in August, which aired on Fox News, and was watched by 12.8 million people.
Trump, 77, skipped that debate as well, citing his “legendary” polling lead.
Sources have told The Post that Trump will also not participate in the third primary debate, which will be held in Miami on Nov. 8.
A post-debate survey of 1,303 people, conducted by Leger for The Post, found that 62% of GOP voters still want Trump to emerge as the party’s standard bearer – a 2 point increase since the first debate.
DeSantis, 45, came in a distant second place, with just 10% of Republican voters wanting to see the Florida governor at the top of the 2024 GOP presidential ticket.
They all are a bunch of losers !