The first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign cycle drew about 51.3 million people, according to the media analytics company Nielsen, a sharp drop from previous debates and the smallest audience since a 2004 debate between John Kerry and President George W. Bush. Nielsen’s audience estimate came in slightly above host CNN’s figure. The cable news company said Friday that 47.9 million people watched the debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump across broadcast and cable TV as well as streaming. While still a sizable TV audience, Nielsen’s estimate represents an approximately 30% drop in viewership from the first Biden-Trump debate in 2020, which drew 73 million viewers. At 51.3 million people, the estimate puts the most recent debate just ahead of the third Bush-Kerry debate but behind all debates from the 2008, 2012 and 2016 campaigns, according to data from Nielsen’s election hub. Still, the debate was the highest-rated…
