TV's Lefties Get an Unexpected Bump

Has the presidential race finally had its Tina Fey moment? After a summer in which political television programs generated lackluster ratings compared with those of the 2008 election season, a leaked video of Mitt Romney dismissing 47 percent of Americans as "dependent on the government" has boosted tune-in for topical broadcasts. And while political shows in general are seeing viewership surges in the wake of the conventions, the specter of a Romney presidency seems to be energizing left-leaning viewers. "Ever since the Tea Party, there has been a huge enthusiasm gap," says news analyst Andrew Tyndall. "The Democrats are finally closing that."