CNN's GOP Debate Lures 3.6 Million Viewers

CNN's most recent Republican presidential debate ranked as the top telecast among the cable news networks on Tuesday evening from 8-10 p.m.

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Moderated by Wolf Blitzer, the national security debate held in Washington D.C. lured 3.6 million total viewers and 1.04 million in the key adults 25-54 demographic. The debate, which took place from 8-9:59 p.m., didn't draw as many eyeballs to its Oct. 18 event held in Las Vegas which attracted nearly 2 million more viewers with 5.5 million. Fox News Channel's Sept. 22 debate still stands as the season's most-watched with 6.1 million.

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In the 25-54 demo, however, last night's showing outrated three previous debates, including CNBC's Nov. 9 discussion (993,000) and Fox News Channel's May 5 talker (854,000). 

The debate boosted Anderson Cooper's primetime news show Anderson Cooper 360 at 10 p.m. The program ranked No. 1 in its time slot with an average of 1.43 million viewers.

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Time slot competitors Fox News Channel's On the Record With Greta Van Susteren drew 1.3 miillion viewers and 365,000 in the demo, while MSNBC followed with 723,000 and 209,000, respectively, tuning into The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell.