The audience for Tuesday's CNN debate with some of the contenders for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination fell far below the first matchup in June.
The event _ the first of two consecutive debates this week _ was held at the Fox Theatre in Detroit and averaged 8.7 million TV viewers, according to Nielsen data released Wednesday. CNN said additional viewers on CNN en Espanol and its digital stream pushed the total up to 9.2 million.
The total fell well below round one of the first two-part 2020 Democratic debate shown on NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo on June 26, which was watched by 15.3 million viewers. The following night set a record for a Democratic primary debate with 18.1 million viewers.
Still, the Tuesday event is the second most-watched Democratic primary debate in CNN's history, ranking behind the first candidate showdown in the 2016 presidential cycle, which drew 15.5 million viewers on Oct. 13, 2015. That debate was held in the fall when there are typically more people watching television than the summer months.
The lively debate on Tuesday was a battle between the Democrats' liberal and moderate wings, with the most left-leaning candidates _ Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont _ taking most of the fire.
Along with Warren and Sanders, CNN's first round included Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Rep. John Delaney of Maryland, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio and author and spiritual adviser Marianne Williamson.
The second round was held Wednesday with front-runner former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, former HUD Secretary Julian Castro, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.
CNN executives are anticipating a larger audience for Wednesday's debate given that there is significant pressure on Biden, 76, to turn in a strong performance after a lackluster showing in his first debate appearance.
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