Early ratings results show Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden bested President Trump’s viewership in Thursday’s dueling town halls.
The numbers show Biden’s town hall event drew approximately 13.9 million viewers Thursday in total, while Trump’s NBC town hall, which also aired on CNBC and MSNBC, garnered 13.1 million viewers. The numbers do not include those who streamed the events online.
The full ratings will be updated later Friday.
Early ratings signaled Biden’s rating lead, which were subject to change due to time differences. Before the audiences of NBC affiliates, CNBC, and MSNBC were determined, Biden drew 12.7 million viewers for his 90-minute event on ABC News, while Trump garnered 10.4 million viewers during his hourlong town hall with NBC.
The town halls were scheduled after the second in-person presidential debate was canceled following Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis, which required him to be hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
The final presidential debate is scheduled for Oct. 22 at Belmont University, which both Trump and Biden have said they are willing to attend. NBC News White House Correspondent Kristen Welker is scheduled to moderate the debate.
