Pennsylvania markets lead debate audience of 67.1M

(The Center Square) – Viewership was up and battleground Pennsylvanians were watching, according to Nielsen audience shares for Tuesday’s presidential debate.

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump were hosted by ABC News in the 9 p.m. Eastern time slot. The viewing audience was estimated at 67.1 million.

On eight networks, the rating was 32.8% and the share 70%, industry analyst Michael Mulvihill posted to social media.

Top markets were Pittsburgh (44.2), Philadelphia (43.4) and West Palm Beach (43.3). The rest of the top 10 was Minneapolis (38.7), Milwaukee (37.8), Detroit (37.4), New York (36.7), Kansas City (36.7), St. Louis (36.2) and Providence (36.2).

The consensus battlegrounds states have 93 electoral college votes. Pennsylvania has 19, North Carolina and Georgia 16 each, Michigan 15, Arizona 11, Wisconsin 10 and Nevada six.

Nielssen estimated 51.3 million people watched the June 27 debate between Trump and President Joe Biden. Sixteen television networks in addition to host CNN carried it.