General Campaign - Debates - Statistics - PresidentialCampaign2004 -The Messages and Their Analysis - William Benoit - University of Missouri-Columbia

General Campaign

Presidential Debates

How Many People Watch Presidential Debates?

Year	Millions of Viewers for Each Debate
1960	66.4	61.9	63.7	60.4
1976	69.7	63.9	62.7
1980	80.6
1984	65.1	67.3
1988	65.1	67.3
1992	64.2	69.9	66.9
1996	46.1	36.3
2000	46.6	37.5	37.7
(from Commission on Presidential Debates: http://www.debates.org/)

Percentage of Population Viewing Debates					Average
1960	37%	34%	35%	33%	34.75%
1976	32%	29%	29%		30%
1980	36%				36%
1984	28%	29%			28.5%
1988	27%	28%			27.5%
1992	25%	27%	26%		26%
1996	17%	14%			15.5%
2000	17%	13%	13%		14.3%
(US population data from http://www.demographia.com/db-uspop1900.htm)

Number and Length of Debates
Year	Minutes
1960	60	60	60	60
1976	90	90	90
1980	90
1984	90	90
1988	90	90
1992	90	90	90
1996	90	90
2000	90	90	90

Political party logos

Presidential Debates

Background:
Debate History

Do Debates
Influence Voters?

What Do Debates
Talk About?

When Do
Debates Occur?

How Many People
Watch Presidential
Debates?

Resources on
Presidential Debates

Television Spots

Background:
History of Political
TV Advertising

Do TV Spots
Influence Voters?

Analysis of TV Spots

What Do TV Spots
Talk About?

View 2004 TV Spots

Resources on
TV Spots

| Home | Primary Campaign | Nominating Conventions | General Campaign | News Coverage of Campaigns | 2008 Presidential Campaign |

copyright © 2004 The Curators of the University of Missouri

This Web site is made possible through the support of
the College of Arts and Science and the Department of Communication.

Contact the Web editor: William Benoit
web credits