Trump-Clinton prez debate showdown breaks TV record
A record 84 million viewers in the US watched the fiery face-off between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump during their first presidential debate, breaking a previous record set 36 years ago, reports PTI.
The presidential debate between Democratic nominee Clinton and her Republican rival Donald Trump was watched by 84 million people on US TV networks.
The previous record for a presidential debate viewership was 80.6 million between incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter and his Republican rival Ronald Reagan in 1980.
The viewing figures only count those who watched the debate on the 13 US TV channels that carried it live, meaning the true figure may be much higher, media reports said. Millions are also thought to have watched worldwide through online live streams or in bars and at parties.
The data provider Nielsen said that viewers stayed tuned through the 98minute debate held at Hofstra University in Hempstead. Trump told supporters on Tuesday that he knew the debate would have "one of the largest audiences in the history of television" but he "took a deep breath" and "pretended I was talking to my family". "You just block it out," the 70-year-old real estate moghul said.
There are two more presidential debates to come between the candidates - on 9 October and 19 October before the election on November 8. Trump debate sniffles go viral
Trump's case of the sniffles during presidential debate has gone viral on social media, spawning jokes and ironic asides about a candidate who has made his opponent's health an issue. Hashtags like #Sniffles, #TrumpSniffles and #Trumpsniffing proliferated after the Republican sniffled repeatedly in the opening minutes of the widely watched matchup. Comedian Stephen Colbert joked that Trump "sounded like he was fighting off a cold with cocaine." Clinton's debate comment about her opponent's
"Trumped-up trickle down" positions was immediately linked to his runny nose. Others asked about Trump's health.
"Sounds like pneumonia to me," tweeted former Democratic congressman John Dingell.