At last, it would seem that folks here in the US have gotten their priorities straight for once. The New York Times is reporting that at least 40 million folks here in the US tuned in to watch Senator Barack Obama give his nomination acceptance speech at Invesco Field in Denver, CO (which was packed with 80,000 people) on Thursday night to close out the 4-day Democratic National Convention (which means a total 40,800,000 people watched Barack Obama‘s speech in person or on TV alone). In a time where frivolities like American Idol and The Hills seems to rule supreme, more Americans tuned in to watch Obama‘s convention speech than did to even watch the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics:
At least 40 million Americans watched Senator Barack Obama accept the Democratic nomination for president Thursday night, a record for convention viewership that exceeded even the expectations of his aides. The historic speech by the first African-American presidential nominee of a major political party reached 38.4 million viewers on 10 broadcast and cable networks, Nielsen Media Research said Friday. PBS estimated that an additional 3.5 million had watched its prime-time coverage. The ratings dwarfed the audience for the Summer Olympics and the season finale of “American Idol” in May, and added to what was already a sense of buoyancy within the Obama campaign that the night had gone better than planned. Despite Republicans’ advance ridicule of the enormous venue, Invesco Field, and the set, an elaborate, columned backdrop, Democrats went to bed having heard terrific reviews of the final night of their convention. Indeed, the backdrop, initially derided as resembling a Greek temple — playing into the Republican line of attack that Mr. Obama’s supporters had deified him — turned out to be something of a hit; television reviewers and commentators praised the overall staging. “The stagecraft was so phenomenal,” Andrea Mitchell said on MSNBC, adding, “I don’t know how they could have done it any better.” The four-night convention was the most-watched since 1960, when Nielsen began measuring the events. The 10 p.m. hour, Eastern time, from Monday to Thursday was viewed by an average of 22.4 million households, Nielsen said, surpassing by half a million the Republican convention of 1976, previously top-rated. The comparisons with prior conventions come with a number of caveats: convention coverage is shown on more channels now, and the coverage is shorter, at least on the broadcast networks. Regardless, Thursday night’s record was surely impressive. The television audience for Mr. Obama’s speech was half again as large as the viewership for the acceptance speeches by President Bush and Senator John Kerry in 2004. “Obama had an opportunity to get his message across to a record-breaking crowd of millions of American voters, and he used it effectively,” said Bill Burton, a spokesman for the campaign. Demonstrating the gradual shift in the political news audience from broadcast to cable, CNN attracted more viewers than any of the broadcast networks during the 10 p.m. hour on Wednesday and Thursday. (Fox News Channel defeated the broadcasters during the Republican convention in 2004.) Mr. Obama’s speech, which he gave in that hour, reached 8.1 million viewers on CNN, 6.6 million on ABC, 6.1 million on NBC, 4.7 million on CBS, 4.2 million on Fox News, and 4.1 million on MSNBC. Other viewers watched on additional channels … online the speech had been viewed more than 300,000 times on YouTube by Friday evening.
I cannot tell you how encouraged by this news I am. I am really comforted by the fact that so many folks here in the US are actually paying attention to this presidential election. I spent the lion’s share of yesterday evening watching various news programs about Obama‘s convention speech and McCain’s VP selection and even Obama‘s detractors had to concede that he gave an amazingly stirring speech. I must add, tho, that in all the coverage I watched about the new Republican nominee for Vice President, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, I was very alarmed to learn that prior to McCain picking Palin to be his #2 he had only MET HER IN PERSON ONCE … and that was just earlier THIS YEAR! Oh yes, I learned a lot about the new Republican VP nominee which only solidified my support for my candidate. In any event, again, I’m very encouraged that folks are paying attention to this election and it is my sincere hope that people will continue to educate themselves on the candidates who are campaigning to lead this country.
Click HERE to read the full transcript of Barack Obama‘s DNC nomination acceptance speech. After the jump, watch the You Tube video of his speech in full …
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On social issues, it really is that cut and dry. Of course, there are more things to consider for other folks … for me, I’m very concerned that the next president is going to fashion a Supreme Court that will have the ability to either expand or curtail what I consider very important rights and freedoms in this country.
Alright, I’ll say it. Jodi V is a twat. But she is also a perfect example of why we need to stop spending a trillion dollars in Iraq and start spending money on our schools!! “Well I am glad Hillary is not the vp for barack now she can run in 2012, against McCain ,,,and she can be the first Woman President, But right Now Sarah Palin going to be the First Woman Vice President, who has Just as much experiance as Barack Obama,, McCain Made a great choice, Seriously? ,,, doesn’t mean … and the end of a sentence should be . not , I’m not even going to go into the whole “oh it’s a woman so I’ll vote for her” type of thing, because any woman who wants to overturn a woman’s right is not a friend of mine.
I agree with Trent- if your into that whole overturning Roe v. Wade, outlawing same sex marriage, continuing the war in Iraq, off shore drilling, and not doing a damn thing about our energy crisis, then yes, Republican is a good choice for you! Look at the FACTS people.
No, people don’t look at the facts anymore. Too much of Americas youth is brain washed by what their parents say. I see it too often that people are not making decisions for themselves, bu standing in line waiting to be told what to do. It makes me sick and I wish people would think for themselves for once. If you want to vote for McCain, I’m very happy for you, but at least state a LOGICAL answer as to why.
JodyV is a moron….er…twat as said before. Leave her vagina vote as is…..Obama in 08.
[...] 40 Million Watched Barack Obama’s Convention Speech [...]
Oh, look, the cute little, “Lets trick the stupid women into voting for us by throwing that hot broad from Alaska on the ballot,” plan McCain hatched has worked on at least one person!
The Republican camp has been blathering on about how inexperienced Obama is, and yet they chose someone who has even less experience to be their VP. Pot, meet kettle.
Seriously, if you actually like the crap McCain is spewing, then fine, vote for the backwater redneck, but giving him your vote simply because he chose to bring a woman along for the ride shows how ignorant you really are.
“If you are for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the outlaw of same-sex marriage and a continued stay in Iraq then the Reps are for you.”
- Overturning Roe v. Wade. This would not happen through McCain getting put in office. One of the Justices would have to die or retire first. Then McCain would need to nominate a Justice who wanted to overturn it. Then Senate would need to approve this Justice. Not likely to happen. And last I checked, there is no right to an abortion in the Constitution – the place where we look to find our rights. Even if Roe was overturned, this would not make abortion illegal. It would give states the ability to choose what kind of laws they want to put on abortions or none at all.
- The outlaw of same-sex marriage. This statement is just plain wrong. While some individual republicans support a constitutional amendment defining marriage between a man and a woman, the Republican party does not support this amendment, and even if they did – it would NEVER actually happen. ONLY 17 Amendments have been passed over the last 200 years despite over 10,000 being introduced in that time. While some states may pass it in their own state constitutions, this is not effected by who is President.
I just want to bring up that Sarah Palin has two years less experience than Obama. she received her bachelors in science for journalism. yes, she was the mayor of that tiny town in Alaska for four years, which gives her six technical years of experience. However, Obama attended law school at harvard, and after he graduated, he was a civil rights attorney before he looked into poltics. Now, lot’s talk about Biden, who also attended law school and was the youngest person to make senate, at the age of 29. Her lack of experience will show during the debate against Biden, which i am looking forward to.
I have to question Mccain for choosing someone he’s met once. Shouldn’t there be a closer tie between the two people running our country? He clearly wanted to get a minority in his party and since Obama is already black, he had to go with a woman. Unfortunately, America seems to be more sexist than they are racist.
and Shaun Industry? no voting black after labor day? Isn’t that a bit of a racist remark. let’s keep those out of here.
Trent – you haven’t told us for whom to vote. You’re entitled to your opinion and preference. This is your blog. say what you want. Alot of today’s youth is brainwashed by what their parents say, or what the media says, which goes for republicans just as much as it does democrats. I’m one of the youth voters, and i’ve done my research, i know what matters most to me and i’ve chosen my cadidate because of the issues they find important, not because my daddy told me for whom to vote.
Let’s consider what Michelle Obama said this past week when she told us to vote for our hopes, instead of our fears. What do you hope for? T
Barista–i think Shaun Industry was just making a joke and going off the “dont WEAR white after labor day” idea. i dont think he meant it as a racist comment so much as commenting that he was voting for Obama
anniemal–yes, overturning roe v. wade would not make abortions illegal, but look how many individual states of legalized same-sex marriages in recent years? it takes time for each state to approve these laws. also, it is very likely that our next President will elect at least one, if not two, Supreme Court justices and McCain, as the more conservative candidate, is probably more likely to choose one who would by against abortion and more likely overturn Roe v. Wade. not saying that’s definitely what would happen if McCain was President, but it’s more likely than if Obama was President.
1st anniemal there are set to be 2 possibly 3 justice positions available within the next 4-8 years, so yes apparently someone is retiring.
2nd its amazing how in this country people confine themselves to one party especially when they truly have no idea what the party is fundamentally about.
you should vote for the party that best represents you. That’s what they are representatives of “The People”. If you have a hard time choosing then you should vote for who you think would be the most inline with your personal ideology.
it’s great to have debate about all the important issues in our society, but to tear one another down because they don’t believe in YOUR way is ridiculous and makes you look petty and childish.
if you have only negative things to say about either candidate or if you believe one candidate is full of fault or inexperienced then you haven’t given either candidates a fair shot.
both candidates have their good AND bad qualities. both are politically experienced AND inexperienced in ways that the other is not.
if you want to win people over to “your side” debate the issues and give facts to support your claims, maybe you’ll change someones mind, But you’ll never change someones opinion if you call them names like a child would.
for those who have been very adult in their posts by actually debating the facts about what makes your candidate a better candidate, kudos! that’s what the election process is all about. Debate on!
Respect.
This is so funny. People criticizing Palin for her lack of experience, yet Obama has never made an executive decision in his life. You really can’t criticize Palin without questioning Obama. Liberals are desperate. You haven’t seen this woman in action. She is a reformer and took on corrupt members of her own party. She puts principle before party. Why is it you guys are so quick to welcome Obama with open arms, but bash Palin for her inexperience? Double standard I think.
Barista – “Shaun Industry? no voting black after labor day? Isn’t that a bit of a racist remark.”
Firstly, no it would not be a racist remark even if I had written “no voting black after labor day.” Tasteless, nonsensical, and unfunny? Yes. Racist? No. Why? Because one of the candidates is white and the other is black. If you think that is racist, then you must see racism EVERYWHERE: the five o’ clock news, every newspaper in America, millions of voters and people outside the US, etc.
Secondly, you need to re-read what I actually typed. It read, ‘Mama always told me never to vote WHITE after Labor Day’. White, not black. Please make sure you fully understand what is written before you post a response.
Wow, I’m sorry about that. How embarrassing that I misread what you typed.
To all you dems out there: If Sarah Palin has no experience and is only a “hot Alaskan” why are you all so worried? I do not remember a week ago there being this much press about Mr. Obama’s pick,,,Also you all may want to check the polls because someones numbers are dropping drastically and you can’t argue those facts. 4 more years for the Republicans!
This is totally exciting news! I’m so glad that so many people are really paying attention! (Also, Tiff, I actually just checked the polls, and it looks like Obama’s are up! Although, for the record, i think there is way too much emphasis on polls in general.)
This is the first time I feel obligated to comment since I do want to believe that people are feeling more invested in politics.
I am totally offended as a female Clinton supporter that McCain believes that by putting a female as his vp choice makes Clinton supporters pick another female. Instead of “breaking” the glass ceiling, I believe they are backing down from it by making us believe that one female is interchangable for another. Also, Palin’s beliefs and ideals are the opposite of what Hillary believed in and to vote for her, is a step back for females everywhere. Because i am also a democrat, of course there was no chance i would vote republican but I actually thought that McCain’s argument would have been stronger if he picked someone else he knew for more than a few hours. I don’t want to say he should have stuck with the safe route, but I don’t see why he didn’t pick a different female republican such as the Texas rep; that way, he would have emphasized his earlier point of choosing more “experience.” By the way, being in the PTA does not mean you have government experience. That means me being in student government through middle and high school means that I also have 6 years of experience and that I am also ready to take a high position in government.
Sorry Republican hard asses but thanks to your precious GWB there ain’t a chance in hell America’s gonna elect another Rep. Yes Prez Bushy-poo did an excellent job of showing us just how self-centered, corrupt, careless and WRONG a Republican leader can be! I can’t say it much clearer– Bush FUCKED US ALL. Maybe if you Reps took the sticks out of your asses you would have realized. Now the Democrats will take over, clean up the little boy’s mess, and set our country back on the right track. My teenage years were filled with shame and anger towards my countrys leader and I finally feel that I may love my country again with the help of a great new leader and the beginning of some great changes.
P.S. McCain met Palin ONE TIME!!!
P.P.S. Is he even going to live to see election day?
If your decomcrat leaders are so great how come the Senate has a lower approval rating than Bush? And fk, maybe you should reread my comment, I did not say that McCain was in the lead but if you look at the poll numbers from the past 2 months he has dropped 8 points. While he got a minor boost from the convention, it won’t last!
i hate obama he just came out he is unexprincesd he ask for a donation to help him out cause he don’t have no money