Who is Watching the Dems in Denver? (An Answer!)

Barack is now the nominee, Hillary is on board, Bill is kicking into gear and Joe is taking names. The Democrats' convention is eventful, but who is watching it all go down?

Over twenty million people a night -- and the numbers are rising. In fact, on the second night of the convention, the Dems quintupled their draw compared to 2004. Five times the voters ain't bad.

This Tuesday drew 26 million viewers, while only about five million people tuned in on the same day in 2004. That's partly because no networks covered Kerry's second day in Boston. This year, in contrast, there is huge interest in the entire convention, and especially in Sen. Clinton's address on Day Two.

About nine percent of the U.S. population is checking into convention coverage, according to Nielsen . The share is higher among African Americans -- about 12.7 percent are tuning in to see the first nomination of a black candidate by a major party in American history. Divided by age, the audience for this convention skews towards older Americans. One out of five Americans over age 55 caught some convention programming. (I asked Nielsen if there is any spike in youth interest compared to 2004, but a spokesman said the 2004 age demographics are not available.)

Sitting here in the hall press box, it's hard to have any feel for how most Americans are experiencing the convention. The politicians and pundits are all around, but they're hard to hear. Sen. Evan Bayh, the only neoconservative to make Obama's VP shortlist, is talking now, but the din of the crowd is drowning out his address. Out of the several dozen reporters near The Nation aisle, few look like they're listening. My colleagues Patricia Williams and Ari Berman are both reading, some grizzled newspaper reporters hit the phones, and a long line snakes behind the section for reporters waiting for floor credentials to get close to Biden's speech.

As Tom Daschle serves up a stern lecture, the delegates are buzzing with preparation for the bigger speeches of the night. Obama operatives clad in bright green vests run from the boiler room with signs, flags and other Americana for delegates to wave during the next speeches. Daschle's address is about as staid as his striped gray tie, but people seem excited anyway.

Comments (14)

1. "We want to know what kind of destruction the Dems have in store for our nation should Obama be elected." --"Pastor Larry" LVLiberty

   Not any more than we've been through over the last, oh, seven years or so.

   But let's drop the silly partisan bullshit and call a spade a spade. Both parties have increasingly been complicit in the wholesale destruction of what was once a reasonably great nation.

   In fact, here's a conservative who tells the story of America today as well as anyone I've seen in a long time:

   www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/08152008/watch.html

   Andrew Bacevich's new book, "The Limits of Power", ought to have excerpts read out loud to audiences of both the Democratic and Republican conventions.

   And then a pamphlet form with the book's main points -- namely that our so-called liberty is dependent on our wise use of our resources and a scaling back of our empire abroad-- ought to be issued to every American citizen as they wait in line to vote for the next guy who will likely ignore the fundamental facts of our predicament.

   Posted by b_kool_66 at 08/27/2008 @ 9:29pm

2. Here in Alabama, we're watching online, on either MSNBC or CNN. We've watched almost all of the convention this way. Quite frankly, it's been riveting. I'm sorry every network isn't running the whole thing. (We don't have tv really, so it wouldn't help us, but still.)

   The Roll Call this afternoon was the best-designed and most inspirational secular ritual I've ever seen. As of this evening, I'm appreciating Bill Clinton more than I ever have.

   We're not over 55. We're white 30s and 40s, living in (but not from) Alabama, proud Democrats!

   Go Obama-Biden!

   Posted by tlesh at 08/27/2008 @ 9:47pm

3. Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/27/2008 @ 9:33pm

   LVLIB is still fighting for a return to Calvin Coolidge'ism!

   LOL....or is it Benjamin Harrison'ism???

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/27/2008 @ 10:02pm

4. This convention/event was as masterfully orchestrated as the Obama campaign. Thanks to Howard Dean in large part too.

   Go to YouTube -because the video is larger and it has good sound -and watch the song John Legend sung with the Agape singers , called "If You're Out There.

   If you dont't tear up when you hear it - then you don't have a soul.

   The convention graphics and lighting are true works of art in themselves, but when you hear John Legends voice singing Obama's words - this is the Democratic party at it's finest.

   I'm really pleased.

   Of course everything will go to hell when our pathetically led Congress comes back.....but ..just for these four days - they did good.

   Posted by hazmaq at 08/27/2008 @ 10:28pm

5. Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/27/2008 @ 9:13pm

   moo.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 08/27/2008 @ 10:31pm

6. namely that our so-called liberty is dependent on our wise use of our resources and a scaling back of our empire abroad--

   Posted by b_kool_66 at 08/27/2008 @ 9:29pm

   ta da!

   Posted by frosty zoom at 08/27/2008 @ 10:33pm

7. but overall, we remain the greatest nation on the face of the earth.

   Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/27/2008 @ 9:33pm

   i bet the people in flint disagree.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 08/27/2008 @ 10:33pm

8. LVLIB is still fighting for a return to Calvin Coolidge'ism!

   LOL....or is it Benjamin Harrison'ism???

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/27/2008 @ 10:02pm

   actually, he's waiting for godot.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 08/27/2008 @ 10:34pm

9. watching the convention on C-SPAN. turned off the corp media, as most of what they show are commercials and endless prattling pundits. viewing the convention on C-SPAN is like watching something completely different than what's on MSNBC, CNN, ABC, NBC or CBS. (i don't watch FAUX). hard to even tell its the same convention. i'd say, if anyone really wants to see the varied speakers and get an unfiltered view of the DNC, turn off the MSM and check C-SPAN or PBS, the latter of which at least has fewer pundits.

   Posted by sincere1906 at 08/27/2008 @ 10:37pm

10. RE: Watching ...

    If Big Mac picks Joe Lieberman or a woman as running mate, that will be a lot more excitement and diversity that Biden - Obama ticket.

    Posted by HelenDAO at 08/27/2008 @ 11:19pm

11. Fortunately, I'm on vacation with my family in Ohio and have the opportunity to watch the Convention. I live in Oakland and would be barely getting home when a lot of this is going on. I feel for people on the west coast as they may not be able to watch as much of a possible turning point in American history.

    I voted Green in 2000 - not in a swing state and casted a lazy vote for Kerry in 2004. I have not favored the bipartisan political paradigm, but as I have been watching this years convention, and hearing the array of democratic and rebublican voices share the story for a brighter vision of what our country is capable of doing, I must say that I have been moved greatly. Bill, Hilary, Joe, Dennis, et. al have been absolutely fabulous in regaining my committment.

    My Dad made an interesting point: If Barack skin color was different and he said the same things and had the same people on stage, there wouldn't be a question in people's minds. Yet, the color of his skin can be something that helps us to reach a new state of awareness in America ... and ... it could be the determining factor in 4 years of "more of the same."

    Posted by Brannu at 08/27/2008 @ 11:34pm

12. vacation in ohio?!??!??

    just kidding. lake erie's beautiful.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/28/2008 @ 12:40am

13. "A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just nine percent (9%) of Likely Voters give Congress positive ratings, while 51% say it's doing a poor job."

    Does anyone know if the blue collar working class champion Speaker of the House Pelosi wears her Armani suits more than once? I've heard she does.

    Posted by bleedingheart at 08/28/2008 @ 08:29am

14. Posted by bleedingheart at 08/28/2008 @ 08:29am

    Okay, then, if those polls have ANY meaning... the Repubs should be retaking Congress EASILY...shouldn't they?

    Will they?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/28/2008 @ 09:02am