Biden's ABC town hall averaged 14.1 million viewers,compared to 13.5 million for Trump’s. That's particularly notable given the Biden event was broadcast on just one network. Trump's figure includes those who tuned in on NBC affiliates MSNBC and CNBC as well as the main channel.
Rather than Trump,it was the Biden campaign gloating on Twitter."Turns out more people last night were interested in watching a leader with a clear plan to get this pandemic under control and Americans back to work,than the same combative,chaotic liar whose incompetence got us into this mess - regardless of how many channels he was on,"tweeted Biden's press secretary TJ Ducklo.
Ratings,of course,don't equal votes and this was just one night of television. But it points to one of the most fundamental questions playing out in this election:after four years of non-stop drama,are Americans tired of the Trump show?
While Trump's hardcore supporters remain highly energised by his presidency,it's not hard to find examples of"Trump fatigue"as you travel around the US. Many Americans pine for the days when politics didn't dominate daily life so much,when you could talk about sport or movies with your neighbours without it turning into a political debate.
"Its exhausting,"Robin Shaw,a lifelong Republican in Arizona who plans to vote for Biden,toldThe Sydney Morning Herald andThe Age during a recent visit there."Everyone I talk to is fed up. We're tired."