Breaking: Georgia lawmakers vote to release Epstein files
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

WABE has cut staff and programming to accommodate the loss of $1.9 million in annual funding from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, which Congress defunded this month. (Rodney Ho/AJC 2025)

Credit: Rodney Ho/AJC

Donor leaves WABE $3 million, largest individual gift in station’s history

An Atlanta resident has bequeathed WABE a $3 million donation, the largest one-time individual donation in the nonprofit media operation’s 76-year history.

Usher sues business partners over failed Buckhead restaurant plan

Atlanta singer Usher wants his money back after loaning $1.7 million to music producer Bryan-Michael Cox and others to buy a Buckhead restaurant property for $6.3 million.

Braves’ original ‘Freeze’ is retired. But you probably still can’t catch him.

As the Atlanta Braves prepare to find their next sprinting mascot, Nigel Talton is enjoying his new career coaching high school athletes at McEachern High.