MSNBC Dem Debate Early Stats: 4.4M Viewers Watch Hillary Clinton Bash Bernie Sanders’ “Artful Smear”

[Blue_Adept]

Per Deadline:

According to metered market Nielsen data, MSNBC ‘s Democratic debate last night clocked about 4.4 million viewers, which would be the smallest debate of the political election cycle to date. Though it was a bit of a brawl — former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton bashed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for his “artful smear” on her integrity when he compared her campaign financing to his — that would put last night’s debate on track to be the lowest rated of the political election cycle to date. That said, with these stats MSNBC will have scored a rare No. 1 finish in the slot among cable news networks last night with the debate, moderated by NBC News’ Chuck Todd and MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow.

One night earlier, CNN’s “town hall” with the two candidates clocked 2.7 million total viewers and 871,000 in the demo.

[Maedhros]

1. If she doesn't want to be criticized for taking money from Wall Street,

then she shouldn't take money from Wall Street.

Pointing out that fact is not a smear. I don't recall much wailing and gnashing of teeth by DU members when Romney's Wall Street funding ties were brought up, and I'm certain that absolutely nobody would have agreed that discussing Romney's corporate funding was a "smear."

It is hypocritical in the extreme to apply the term in the context of Clinton's fundraising.

[Fawke Em]

2. And more than half of those viewers booed right along with the audience.