CNN’s much-anticipated sit-down interview with the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz averaged 6.3 million viewers Thursday, according to The LA Times citing data from Nielsen.
The audience size was slightly larger than that of a typical town hall or formal interview of a presidential or vice presidential candidate.
Harris had not done an in-depth chat with a journalist since President Biden ended his reelection campaign and endorsed the vice president on July 21.
The matter became a frequent talking point for pundits and the Republican opposition after what was widely considered a strong nominating convention last week in Chicago.
Fox News pulled 6.1 million viewers on July 15 when Sean Hannity conducted the first interview with former President Trump’s vice presidential running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio).
The candidates on the Republican ticket appeared together on the July 22 edition of “Jesse Watters Tonight” after their party’s convention, drawing 4.3 million viewers.
Trump is a frequent presence on Fox News and other conservative outlets, making his appearance less of an event. The last time Trump was interviewed on CNN — in a much-maligned town hall staged on May 10, 2023 — 3.3 million viewers watched.
The hourlong CNN special with Harris and Walz contained about 17 minutes of actual conversation (the ratings measured the program from 9 p.m. to 9:50 p.m. Eastern versus a full hour for comparable interviews). The candidates were taped earlier in the day while campaigning through Georgia, an important swing state in the election.
Reaction to the speech predictably broke down along partisan lines.
Trump is set to appear in an hourlong town hall with Hannity on Wednesday. Both Trump and Harris are committed to meet Sept. 10 for their only scheduled debate in Philadelphia, moderated by ABC News anchor David Muir and Linsey Davis.
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