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San Diegans love their presidential politics — or maybe they thought last night’s vice presidential debate would be as much of a cliffhanger as a Chargers game.
Whatever the reason, the television ratings for the debate between Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Joe Biden were higher in San Diego than other big city in the West.
The Nielsen ratings service reported that an estimated 42 percent of San Diego television households were tuned to the debate.
San Diego’s viewership beat out the levels in Denver, San Francisco, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle and Portland.
Of the 55 markets that Nielsen measured through its electronic meter system, viewership was lowest in Los Angeles at 34 percent.
Nationwide, the highest debate ratings were in East Coast and Midwestern cities, most likely because the debate aired during prime time in those areas. On the West Coast, the debate aired at 6 p.m., when many people were not yet home from work.
Baltimore came in at No. 1 with a rating of 59 percent, followed by St. Louis — the site of the debate — at 58 percent.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, last night’s face-off may be the most watched debate — presidential or vice-presidential — since 1992.
— RANDY DOTINGA