In a marked departure from the high viewership numbers of past vice presidential debates, the 2024 face-off between Republican Sen. JD Vance from Ohio and Democratic Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota attracted just 43.1 million viewers this Tuesday.

This figure represents a significant drop of 25% from the over 57 million audience that tuned in four years prior, making it one of the least watched vice presidential debates since records began in 1976. The event, hosted by CBS News and moderated by Norah O’Donnell of “CBS Evening News” and Margaret Brennan from “Face the Nation,” took place at the CBS Broadcast Center located in Manhattan’s West Side.

The debate, which saw former President Trump’s running mate Vance go head-to-head with Vice President Kamala Harris’s colleague Walz, was noted for its civil tone—a stark contrast to the more contentious political climate of recent years. Both candidates found common ground on various policy issues, a rare sight that recalled a more genteel era of political engagement.

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However, not all moments were free from controversy. A notable instance occurred when moderators O’Donnell and Brennan corrected Vance’s misleading claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. Despite Vance labeling them as illegal immigrants and alleging they consumed local pets—a claim he had previously spread on social media—the moderators clarified these individuals were in the U.S. legally under Temporary Protected Status. This correction led to a brief clash on stage, highlighting the tension between maintaining factual integrity and the debate’s rules against real-time fact-checking.

CBS led all networks in viewership for this event with an audience of 9.1 million people according to early Nielsen figures, followed by Fox News with 7.7 million and ABC with 6.1 million viewers respectively.

This year’s lower viewership raises questions about the changing dynamics of electoral politics and public interest in vice presidential candidacies amid evolving media consumption habits. Despite this decline, moments like the clarification on immigration facts underscored the importance of truthfulness in political discourse—an element both rare and valued in today’s polarized environment.

Why do you think the 2024 vice presidential debate had a significant drop in viewership compared to previous years? How do changing media habits and public interest impact the significance of such political events?

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