My guess is no one watched that debate tonight except political junkies.

[JRLeft]

[TDale313]

1. I think you're right. n/t

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

2. Except Hillary supporters. Bernie's had better plans

[delrem]

3. These debates shouldn't be delivered by and designed by and moderated by the MSM.

I know that keeps it "safe".
Nevertheless, the entire process shouldn't be privatized all the way down to the "grassroots".

[restorefreedom]

4. twitter was very active

but i don't know if they were all junkies. but a lot of people commenting.

[Purveyor]

5. Of course. The ratings will confirm... Nt

[jmowreader]

6. Seriously: does anyone except political junkies ever watch debates?

[CoffeeCat]

7. I can guarantee that Iowans were tuned in and engaged!

With our caucuses just over two months away--Iowans are fully engaged in the caucus season and I imagine a large number of Iowans tuned in.

This debate happened in Iowa, in Des Moines. There was a great deal of pre-debate buzz. The Des Moines Register did a multi-page article on the debate and local news/media discussed it. Big news story in Iowa.

I've been through quite a few election cycles in Iowa and one thing is certain--Iowans take their "first in the nation" status quite seriously. We try to learn a great deal about the candidates. I'm fairly certain that Iowans were very interested in this debate and that many watched as part of their "due diligence" before they participate in the Iowa caucuses.

We are thorough with our research, for sure!

Sidebar! For those who might be interested (and don't know!) a caucus is not an individual act of voting. Groups of caucus participants meet in high-school gymnasiums, local libraries, community centers and even firehouses. Depending on the population in your precinct, your caucus can be large (a hundred people) or very small (a few people meeting in someone's living room). During your caucus--you meet, discuss the candidates and divide into candidate camps. The Sanders people will congregate in one area of the room; Clinton supporters in another, etc. Then, debate begins and supporters step forward and attempt to persuade others to vote for the other candidate. It's like a vetting. Anyone can speak.

Then, people change camps, if they want. Then, a final tally is counted (by show of hands). The counts are triple checked and phoned into a central office with three witnesses--to ensure proper and honest counts.

It is true democracy in action! It is fun! And it's so basic. No voting machines. Just people, discussions, debates and a show-of-hand counts.

Because of the very personal and communicative nature of the caucuses--Iowans research the candidates as much as possible prior to caucusing.

It's really cool and I can't wait to participate in a couple of months.

[rjsquirrel]

8. Ten minutes and off

So dull. ISIS is evil over and over.

Oh for an actually charismatic democrat. None of these candidates does it for me.

[JRLeft]

12. I didn't watch, nice to know I didn't miss anything.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

9. My parents did.

I actually wound up not watching it, trying to figure out computer problems I was having, and only finally succeeding this morning.

[Moliere]

10. That was the point

[JaneyVee]

11. Anyone know the ratings?