Despite Trump’s absence, Thursday’s debate was the second-largest audience ever for a Fox News telecast, beaten only by the first Republican presidential debate in 2015 with 24 million viewers.
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“This way we made our point”, Trump added.
After the event, Trump’s campaign announced he raised $6 million for veterans Thursday after setting up a website earlier in the day. The “undercard” debate drew 4.5 million viewers.
So was the Trump-less Fox News debate a ratings disaster or a ratings win for Fox?
Trump won backing on Thursday when two Republican candidates, Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee, agreed to attend his alternative event, a fundraiser for veterans at Iowa’s Drake University, during the Fox News debate.
Cruz echoed that sentiment in his closing remarks on the main stage when he said, “The media noise will soon be over, and it’s time for the people of Iowa to decide”.
Even though he was absent, Trump figured prominently in the debate. The elephant not in the room was Donald Trump. Chris Christie, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Texas Sen.
And Colbert did not fail to question both sides of Trump about his thoughts on Fox News host Megyn Kelly. “I’m supporting another candidate for president”. Fox Business’ more recent Republican candidates debate, in which Trump participated, Fox Business brought an audience of 11 million.
Cruz and other rivals had mocked Trump for skipping the debate since his decision on Tuesday.
Hundreds of voters are awaiting Trump’s arrival in Nashua, New Hampshire on Friday, for a rally scheduled less than 12 hours after the Fox News debate he opted to skip, claiming he was treated unfairly by the network at their August debate.
Cruz, after a series of questions, said: “If you ask me one more mean question, I may have to leave the stage”.
“I don’t think Ted Cruz has a great chance to be honest with you…”
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The network said its chairman, Roger Ailes, in conversations with Trump, “acknowledged his concerns” about a “satirical observation” that upset Trump. Trump, who counter-programmed the debate with a Trumpathon not far from the Des Moines debate, lost no ground, a good outcome for somebody leading in every poll.
