WHICH IS HOW MAVERICK COMPOUNDED THE HOUSE GAFFE:

Early Palin-Biden debate ratings suggest strong viewership (James Hibberd, 10/03/08, The Live Feed)

In the very preliminary ratings returns, Thursday's debate between Alaska governor Sarah Palin and Delaware senator Joe Biden is looking like a strong draw.

The four broadcast networks airing last night's debate totaled a 28.1 overnight meter-market household rating.

That's 33% higher than last week's morning-after returns for Friday's presidential debate, which scored a collective 21.4 rating among the major networks.

The delay in passing the plan afforded John McCain a perfect opportunity to move the presidential debate out of the Friday night deadzone to a timeslot where someone might have seen him win.

Posted by Orrin Judd at October 3, 2008 9:01 AM