Political Insider
Political Insider

Monday's debate was the most watched in U.S. history

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton shake hands after the first presidential debate. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Credit: Tamar Hallerman

Credit: Tamar Hallerman

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton shake hands after the first presidential debate. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
By
Sept 27, 2016

Monday's debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump captured at least 84 million viewers, making it the most-watched presidential debate in U.S. history and putting it in the stratosphere of the Super Bowl.

The Nielsen company said the viewership toppled a 36-year-old record set in 1980 when Jimmy Carter faced Ronald Reagan in the contest's sole presidential debate. That event attracted 80.6 million viewers. By comparison, the first debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in 2012 averaged 67 million viewers.

ExploreHere's more from the AP:

More coverage:

ExploreTrump, Clinton get more personal day after first debate
ExploreHow Hillary Clinton rattled Donald Trump at the first debate

Trump and Clinton finally get their showdown

About the Author

Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution's chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.

Follow Greg Bluestein on facebookFollow Greg Bluestein on twitter
More Stories

The Latest

U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., is Joe Biden's choice for a running mate in this year's election. She is making history as the first Black woman and the first Indian American woman on a major party’s presidential ticket. (Anna Moneymaker/The New York Times)

Credit: Anna Moneymaker

FROM 2020

Opinion: Black and Indian girls like me can see themselves in Kamala Harris

PG A.M.: Marjorie Taylor Greene faces backlash in push to oust House Speaker

PG A.M.: Kemp renews support for Trump, GOP ticket ‘from the bottom up’

Featured

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones — pictured at an August rally in Peachtree City that also featured Vice President JD Vance — appears to have scored another legal victory over gubernatorial rival Attorney General Chris Carr in their battle over campaign finance issues. (Arvin Temkar/AJC 2025)

Credit: Arvin Temkar / AJC

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones scores another victory over use of campaign cash

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones appears to have scored another victory over Attorney General Chris Carr as the Republican gubernatorial candidates battle over campaign finance issues.

Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr.’s season is over; needs surgery to repair ACL

Michael Penix Jr., whom the Falcons hoped was their quarterback of the future, will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a partially torn ACL in his left knee.

Typewriter Tom fuels a growing interest in analog writing devices

Roswell's Tom Rehkopf owns about 1,000 typewriters, which he tinkers with at his workshop and happily shares with fellow aficionados, curious youngsters and even Tom Hanks.