"What does it matter anyway how many people tuned in ?" - Blockdog

A good question to be sure. Personally, I think this thematic device has primarily been developed, among other reasons, to constantly suggest that the electorate is very evenly divided. I merely pointed out Ms Courics count because she is a princess of the left so it is to be assumed her reporting has no agenda.

Further, as you question and Smorley notes, the numbers do not matter excepting that people have been conditioned to think they do matter, as in the arguments earlier in this thread. To me, it's merely theater, meaning highly choreographed performance art, which is indisputable.

However, in a separate thread I see some folks think Obama is running against Palin. I would suggest the media of both left and right are driving that nonsensical comparison, but it's kinda funny people are falling for it. Or put another way, the media IS driving this mismatched debate, and the electorate is dumb enough to fall for it. That said, I can only assume it makes for great television given the response of the open minded herein.

I leave you with one of the guiding lights of PR, aka, mass psychology:

We Are Governed, Our Minds Molded, Our Taste Formed, Our Ideas Suggested, Largely By Men We Have Never Heard Of. - Edward Bernays 1891-1991

but of course, American's are too smart for that, also (YEAH RIGHT, suckers:)