[TNCMAXQ]

This is very surprising, but encouraging news. Perhaps Palin increased overall enthusiasm for the GOP. As I recall, the Dems got higher ratings in 1996 and this foreshadowed victory. Then 4 years ago I remember reading Bush’s convention got more viewers than Kerry’s so that was a good sign. Perhaps it will be the same this time.

[AFPhys]

Yesterday afternoon I was analyzing the ratings, and noted that of the 38M who watched snObama, 12M+ were minority - way out of kilter with demographics, and 8M more than Sarah’s audience, which was pretty in line with demographics.

I then said, “I will bet that McCain’s is even bigger than last night” ... due to her popularity. Gov.Palin has excited AMERICA, not just Republicans, and she DREW AUDIENCE for McCain.

[AFPhys]

I've been looking at the breakdown of this -

category snObama SaraBarracuda

12-17 yo  1.1M      0.6M

18-34     6.7M      5.5M

18-49    16.0M     14.1M

55+      16.5M     17.8M

Af.Am     7.5M      3.0M

Hisp      5.2M      1.4M

M=Millions

Look where the difference lies: snObama needed 8M more “color” viewers to get his 38M - except for those, he would have had only about 15% more audience than the two days before with Hitlery and Bill&Biden !!! Those are the unswayables, anyway! Also, 1/2 million of his ‘advantage’ are too young to vote!

BET and Telemundo carried snObama's but didn't carry Palin's. CSPAN not included in these numbers (That is where I watched - no talking heads interrupting.)

Hurricane Sarah Wins the rating race BIG time, I believe.

This analysis of the initial, Nielson ratings, and does not include PBS or CSPAN or internet outlets.

When the Neilson Breakdown comes out for McCain's speech, I'll add it.

[CottonBall]

This is very surprising, but encouraging news. Perhaps Palin increased overall enthusiasm for the GOP. As I recall, the Dems got higher ratings in 1996 and this foreshadowed victory. Then 4 years ago I remember reading Bush’s convention got more viewers than Kerry’s so that was a good sign. Perhaps it will be the same this time.

I think it's not only that she got many viewers, but what the viewers saw that matters. I'm sure many were converted by her enthusiasm and back to basics conservatism.