Don't panic if McCain pulls briefly ahead--his speech got MASSIVE viewership

[geek tragedy]

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/09/mccain_tv_ratings_beat_obama_i.php

Presidential candidate John McCain's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention drew more television viewers than his rival Barack Obama attracted at the Democratic party's event last week, according to preliminary ratings from Nielsen Media Research.

Across all broadcast networks Thursday, Sen. McCain’s speech ended the night with a 4.8 rating/7 share, compared to Sen. Obama’s 4.3/7 average, according to overnight numbers from metered households in 55 U.S. markets measured by Nielsen. These ratings are preliminary, however, and are subject to change.

NBC’s coverage of Sen. McCain’s speech started directly at the tail end of the opening game of NFL season, with the speech pulling in a 6.3 rating/10 share, topping Sen. Obama’s speech last week by 26%. That lead-in may have boosted audiences who last night turned out in droves to watch Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin introduce herself to the country.

ABC’s showing of the McCain speech averaged a 4.5/7, down 2% from the same night of the Democratic convention last week, while CBS’ coverage took in a 3.4/5, an increase of 3%.

This will wear off, but the Republicans had a very good week. Until they get into the debate format and have to answer tough questions.

[Teaser]

1. with that speech, maybe not.

.

[geek tragedy]

3. People will fall for the whole POW thing.

People are stupid, emotionalistic creatures.

[BridgeTheGap]

7. Hey, I'm a people too, aren't you!?! ;-> n.t

[Teaser]

9. did you fall for it?

.

[geek tragedy]

30. I'm much smarter than the typical American voter.

So are you.

[Teaser]

38. maybe

but are you more subject to being bored?

Becuase that speech was boring. It was just slow.

[musicblind]

18. You are correct.

[Brundle_Fly]

13. I agree

people want to hear ideas... I think he said people should fend for themselves, or if they dont like it join the establishment and try to change it.

no ideas...

[Brundle_Fly]

15. I agree

people want to hear ideas... I think he said people should fend for themselves, or if they dont like it join the establishment and try to change it.

no ideas...

[1corona4u]

2. I don't buy it.

not in the least.

[Neecy]

4. Had a very good week? You're kidding, right?

I watched the entire thing and all I saw were insults, sarcasm, and a terrible speech last night by McNut.

Hardly anything about addressing the issues people care about - falling wages, rising prices, health care, jobs. When they talked about Iraq it was to continue a very unpopular war.

I thought they had a terrible week. I've watched every GOP convention - with the exception of 2004, I couldn't stomach it - since 1972 and this by far was the biggest mess, unprofessional, sloppy, with NO message discipline - almost no message, period except drilling and more tax cuts for the wealthy.

Did we watch the same convention?

[geek tragedy]

6. Evil doesn't mean ineffective.

The Republicans use the Dark Side of the Force very effectively on the sheeple.

[Neecy]

10. I don't believe it

Maybe it fooled the 20% of the public that self-identify as fundies, but there was NOTHING in there for anyone other than the very rich or the very religious.

People don't give two shits about the 'dark side' when they can't pay to heat their homes this winter or can't afford health insurance. This isn't 2004.

[carpe diem]

5. the OJ Simpson bronco chase got

massive viewers but that doesn't mean people liked what they saw...the people who survived watching that speech might also feel like they were witnessing a crime...

[niceypoo]

8. His speech was boring and non inspiring

[TheKentuckian]

14. I'll stick with my negative bump for the RNC

I'm prepared to be wrong and think nothing of a bump but I don't see it.

In any event, the consistent LIES are going to get some heat, because we're going to push them to the top.

They lie about the most easily proven things. It's stupid.

[high density]

11. why were more people tuning into the RNC?

I watched it as a political junkie out of morbid curiosity... But I dunno why others would want to put themselves through that. 26% more viewers??? I don't believe it.

[JoshDem]

24. Palin and McCain Got More Viewers Than Obama?

This is hard to believe....and not good.

[beac]

37. It's only b/c Democrats like to be INFORMED voters so we watched BOTH speeches

and Repukes revel in being PIG IGNORANT and only watched their own hate-fest.

[JoshDem]

25. Palin and McCain Got More Viewers Than Obama?

This is hard to believe....and not good.

[JoshDem]

26. Palin and McCain Got More Viewers Than Obama?

This is hard to believe....and not good.

[Thrill]

12. Why? the speech was horrible

[kwolf68]

16. People are more interested in McCain than Obama?

I just don't get it.

Maybe I am just blind and not objective because my disdain for the Republicans is so intense, but all I saw were the same cliches, war mongering, fear mongering, division, insults, Librul this, Librul that, USA USA ...

For a nation where more people voted for Gore than Bush and then a very close election with Kerry am I to believe we're heading for the same results? A near miss election yet again with the same party who has screwed the pooch being left in control?

-Hispanics are moving to our side in larger numbers as compared to what bush got
-We'll keep the black vote
-There doesn't appear to be any measurable Green Party issue this year (such as 2000, which gave the election to Scalia to decide)

Are independents moving in that direction? What indies that voted for Kerry will vote for Bush? How many?

It's just not logical. An economy in the crapper, 8 years of tired politics and we're still heading that way because the VP is a 'hockey mom' that is cute and perky and kills animals?

[geek tragedy]

27. America deserved 8 years of Bush.

Will it prove that it deserves another four years?

Up to America if it wants to be a grownup country.

[melody]

42. Oh, bullshit!

America doesn't exist except as a metaphor. You are grossly generalizing about 300 million individual people.
AND we were cheated out of two elections.

Truly smart people know how little any of us really know.

[Sugarcoated]

17. He looked old

and out of touch. 3 or 4 messages, a mean spirited bunch of Republican speeches, a lightweight running mate that, I believe, for every uninspired fundie or far RWer he gains he'll lose 2 or more indies, undecideds & reasonably thinking disaffected Republican's.

The state by states are looking good for Barack. Still going to work hard . . .

Edit to add - high viewership of that speech, and Palin's, is actually really good for us, McLame and that convention looked out of touch, hardly any talk of helping the middle class and a stream of tired old Republican talking points. It was not inspirational or positive.

[azmouse]

19. Who's panicking?

:shrug:

[geek tragedy]

If McCain pulls into the lead in the tracking polls,

you're going to see widespread panic here.

[azmouse]

32. Widespread? I doubt it.

We'd have some panicking here if Obama had a 20 point lead.
We'll always have a few nervous nellies among us.

[BeyondGeography]

33. No, we will see you panic though

:thumbsup:

[melody]

43. That's my feeling, too lol nt

[geek tragedy]

45. Nope.

Not unless the lead lasts a week.

[iconicgnom]

20. His speech was lame. A large post-game audience doesn't change that.

[noel711]

21. "Massive"? EVen a traffic accident has a rabid crowd ..

Many of us forced ourselves to watch
to see if he'd implode.

But, lord have mercy,
it was the most boring speech in the world.
If we haven't heard his 'bio' a thousand times before.
And that swill about 'change...' John,
it's a little late to play that card.
The die has been cast.

Twas a pity.

[writes3000]

22. These numbers are WRONG. NBC's numbers are right but ABC's are wrong. nt

[Amonester]

23. Panic? Why? (+3 EVs overnight)

http://www.electoral-vote.com/
http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2008/Pres/ec_graph-2008.html

I think there's no reasons to panic.
But get to work. This is not over yet.

[Overseas]

28. I don't think they had a good week in terms of effect -- OLD ARGUMENTS

I think lots of people may have had flashbacks of Republican 2004 arguments. Hope they did.
i.e.
THis is what they said last time and look how they've screwed things up.

They want to eliminate all government programs and I'm hoping we'll get Medicare for all, universal health care.

They're so old fashioned and we really need change more quickly because the climate thing looks like it's getting worse much more rapidly than we thought.

[NV Whino]

29. I bet they were counting all the people who fell asleep

Gives you a false positive.

[chitty]

31. The more that watched it the better!

He looked terrible, old & out of touch.

The speech was a bore and there was a lot of empty seats.

I think this is a good thing.

[azmouse]

35. Absolutely. Just because people watched doesn't mean

they're voting Rep.

[Bobbie Jo]

34. It's the trainwreck phenomenon

Many DU'ers participated as well.

[tpi10d]

36. bounce is expected

but bounces only last so long. I think we picked up a permanent point or two during our convention due to greater party unity. All we can do is wait and see..

[NYCGirl]

39. People who were watching the NFL on NBC didn't change the channel afterwards.

Good lead in.

[melody]

40. His speech didn't get *massive* viewership and who the hell is panicking?

National numbers go back and forth. The important factor is the state races.

Besides, I can't imagine the harpy factor PLUS the fact McGramps looked like a weird old man will propel them very far forward.

[geek tragedy]

41. He outdrew Obama and Palin. So, he WILL get a

bounce for that. And people will panic when he pulls ahead.

If he does not pull ahead by Tuesday of next week, it's game over.

[melody]

46. Calm your concerns, little soldier -- he didn't "outdraw" anyone

The set was left on after the ball game on a few more sets on the network channels. The McCain website had no problems yesterday and
stayed up fine. Obama's website crashed from all the people trying to donate.

There are many factors beyond networks now -- cable, Youtube, etc. That DOESN'T show on a Nielsen rating.

[melody]

47. No, he DIDN'T "outdraw" ANYONE

I realize you're excited over the prospect he's going to win but you have to calm yourself and think of
the factors --

Nielsen ratings don't measure a lot of factors -- cable, Youtube, etc. Younger voters (Obama has younger voters)
tend to see things in different ways. McCain (white, male, rich, old) voters only know about network TV.

[melody]

50. He only outdrew Obama and Palin on broadcast TV

He will get a bounce but it won't be a big bounce.

[the Sundance Kid]

44. you're a great cheerleader

[geek tragedy]

48. McCain's speech SUCKED. But, more attention=bigger bounce.

It's a matter of physics.

When McCain has to answer questions on the economy, he's screwed.

[the Sundance Kid]

49. not all attention is good. many of those millions watched Mccain as they would a car wreck

[Phx_Dem]

51. Massive viewship is a good thing in this case.

That speech got horrible reviews from the lapdog press. The AP raved. but they'd rave if McCain took a dump on stage.

[renie408]

52. You have to conclude that WE were at least a part of that massive viewership.

And given that the speech sucked, I am not sure that McCain will provide that much of a bump. Palin might give them a shot in the arm, but I don't think McCain's quavering, hesitating performance will have made that much of a difference.

[terrya]

53. In a way, it will be good.

Obama/Biden might raise a lot more money because of that.