Debate sets cable viewer record

A record 8.3 million viewers tuned in to watch Thursday’s debate on CNN between Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the last showdown of the two Democratic presidential aspirants before Super Tuesday.

The forum in Los Angeles, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times and Politico, drew the biggest audience of any primary debate in cable history, according to Nielsen data provided by CNN, and was the second-highest rated of the season overall. The New Hampshire Democratic debate -- hosted by ABC on Jan. 5 -- pulled in 9.3 million viewers.

Thursday’s debate drew twice as large an audience as the Republican forum on CNN a day earlier; a little more than 4 million viewers tuned in to watch that event.

-- Matea Gold