Approximately 9.5 million viewers tuned in to the Second GOP debate event, which was broadcast on Fox Business Network, and simultaneously aired on Fox News and Univision.
The Second GOP debate, held on Wednesday, saw a notable 26 percent drop in ratings, signaling a concerning trend for candidates not named Donald Trump
This figure pales in comparison to the nearly 13 million viewers who watched the initial Second GOP debate hosted by Fox at the end of August. This declining viewership aligns with the apparent lack of enthusiasm among Republican primary voters for alternatives to Trump, who, despite facing numerous legal challenges, continues to dominate the polls. Trump, opting not to participate in the Second GOP debates, has conducted counterprogramming for both events, engaging with Tucker Carlson and visiting auto workers in Michigan.
With the next scheduled Second GOP debate set for early November in Miami, Trump’s campaign has already confirmed his absence. His recent stance on abortion has stirred controversy within the more conservative factions of his party. Trump has maintained a commanding lead in polls throughout much of the race, consistently outpacing his closest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, by margins exceeding 30 points in most surveys. The first debate did little to alter this established dynamic.
In 2015, during Trump’s emergence in the Republican Party, primary Second GOP debates set unprecedented viewership records
The initial primary debate of the 2016 cycle attracted 24 million viewers, with the second trailing slightly at 23 million. Throughout that primary cycle, spanning from August 2015 to March 2016, all 12 debates garnered over 11 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. Even before the conclusion of the Second GOP debate, Trump’s campaign released a statement advocating for the discontinuation of these events, deeming them ineffective in altering the course of the race.
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