2016 Postmortem

reformist2

(9,841 posts) Tue Oct 20, 2015, 08:52 PM Oct 2015

Only 6% of the voting-age public watched the Democratic debate last week.

The official ratings were 15 million viewers. Those are decent numbers, but when divided by 250,000,000 adults, that's only 6% of the voting-age public who really watched. The rest of the public just heard about it, so any comments they have are ultimately hearsay.

Good thing to keep in mind when analyzing the poll results. Most people who answered the pollsters basically told them, "yeah, I heard Hillary won," and that counted as a vote for Hillary. Again, hearsay. Which usually is inadmissible in court, no?

14 replies

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Only 6% of the voting-age public watched the Democratic debate last week. (Original Post) reformist2 Oct 2015 OP

That should persuade those calling for more debates liberal N proud Oct 2015 #1

I don't mind that few people watched. But to pretend that the public has an opinion on who won.... reformist2 Oct 2015 #4

EXACTLY! elleng Oct 2015 #10

Just the opposite, actually. Many voters don't engage until shortly before they go to the polls, winter is coming Oct 2015 #11

Not true upaloopa Oct 2015 #2

I think you're conflating two different polls.nt sufrommich Oct 2015 #3

Now take that number and divide it into registered voters. jwirr Oct 2015 #5

Where were all the rabid Millennials bringing the Bernie revolution to America?? workinclasszero Oct 2015 #6

did people think anyone other than those already decided would watch JI7 Oct 2015 #7

DAMN RIGHT it's a good thing to keep in mind when analyzing 'poll'results! elleng Oct 2015 #8

Did you bother to READ the article you cited? brooklynite Oct 2015 #12

Um, that was kind of her point. Fawke Em Oct 2015 #14

HEADLINES rule in this fact-free world. elleng Oct 2015 #13

This isn't a courtroom... Agschmid Oct 2015 #9

liberal N proud

(60,331 posts)

1. That should persuade those calling for more debates

Reply to reformist2 (Original post)

Tue Oct 20, 2015, 08:57 PM

Oct 2015

More of the same to the same political junkie audience.

Only us junkies will watch. Candidates need to find a more effective way to reach and convince the voters while exciting them to get out and vote.

reformist2

(9,841 posts)

4. I don't mind that few people watched. But to pretend that the public has an opinion on who won....

Reply to liberal N proud (Reply #1)

Tue Oct 20, 2015, 09:32 PM

Oct 2015

...that's just ridiculous. Most people are only parroting what they heard about the debates. Those aren't informed opinions. The polls are basically recording the success of a line of gossip.

elleng

(130,644 posts)

10. EXACTLY!

Reply to reformist2 (Reply #4)

Tue Oct 20, 2015, 09:55 PM

Oct 2015

winter is coming

(11,785 posts)

11. Just the opposite, actually. Many voters don't engage until shortly before they go to the polls,

Reply to liberal N proud (Reply #1)

Tue Oct 20, 2015, 10:10 PM

Oct 2015

so we should be having debates spread throughout the primary season, and the exclusivity clause should be lifted. That way, debates could be scheduled in the early primary states by local organizations, if desired.

upaloopa

(11,417 posts)

2. Not true

Reply to reformist2 (Original post)

Tue Oct 20, 2015, 09:01 PM

Oct 2015

The questions about the debate were asked of people who watched the debate.

sufrommich

(22,871 posts)

3. I think you're conflating two different polls.nt

Reply to reformist2 (Original post)

Tue Oct 20, 2015, 09:02 PM

Oct 2015

jwirr

(39,215 posts)

5. Now take that number and divide it into registered voters.

Reply to reformist2 (Original post)

Tue Oct 20, 2015, 09:38 PM

Oct 2015

workinclasszero

(28,270 posts)

6. Where were all the rabid Millennials bringing the Bernie revolution to America??

Reply to reformist2 (Original post)

Tue Oct 20, 2015, 09:45 PM

Oct 2015

If they can't be bothered to turn the channel off of Duck Dynasty to watch the debates, do you really think they will go through all the hassle of voting at the local precinct? LOL!

Another meme bites the dust Bernie fans.

The revolution will not be televised cause there will be no revolution.

JI7

(89,233 posts)

7. did people think anyone other than those already decided would watch

Reply to reformist2 (Original post)

Tue Oct 20, 2015, 09:47 PM

Oct 2015

elleng

(130,644 posts)

8. DAMN RIGHT it's a good thing to keep in mind when analyzing 'poll'results!

Reply to reformist2 (Original post)

Tue Oct 20, 2015, 09:52 PM

Oct 2015

'Canada election: Harper, Mulcair and Trudeau in tight race'
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34568497

brooklynite

(94,256 posts)

12. Did you bother to READ the article you cited?

Reply to elleng (Reply #8)

Tue Oct 20, 2015, 10:15 PM

Oct 2015

Incumbent Conservative PM Stephen Harper is fighting for a rare fourth term but the frontrunner is Liberal leader Justin Trudeau.

Early counts in the eastern provinces show the Liberals ahead in all 32 seat races there.