The New York Times has taken a look at the massive ratings being garnered from the GOP primary debates. In 2007, the largest debate audience attracted by the Republican contenders for the nomination was 3.2 million viewers. The recent Fox News debate in Florida attracted 6.1 million viewers.
Cable news executives have several theories to account for the massive increase in public interest; anxiety about the economy, disapproval of the political system in general, and more interesting candidates have all been floated as possible explanations for the numbers.
