NY TIMES: “GOP Debate Draws 12.8 Million Viewers:

The figure exceeded the expectations of some television executives, who believed that Mr. Trump’s absence would lead to far fewer viewers.”

I’d bet good money it’s because a ton of Democrats tuned in to hate watch. If it’s not on Fox News, MAGAts don’t even know it happened. I almost watched just BECAUSE Trump wasn’t going to be there. I can’t stand to watch him speak. I have to read transcripts of him. He makes my skin crawl.