How well do you know the vice presidential candidates?
Oct 3, 2016, 3:45 PM | Updated: Oct 4, 2016, 9:07 am
The world has taken notice of the Ali-Frazier type battle for America’s next president, even if neither Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton is exactly winning any popularity contests. But one survey found that more than 40 percent of Americans are unable to name the vice presidential candidates of the two major parties.
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According to an ABC News survey, 41 percent of the respondents couldn’t name the GOP’s candidate (Mike Pence) and 46 percent didn’t know the name of the Democrat (Tim Kaine). It’s that sentiment that has led The New York Times to dub Tuesday’s debate possibly “the least anticipated vice-presidential debate in 40 years.”
KIRO Radio and KTTH will air Tuesday’s 90-minute VP debate that will start at 6 p.m. at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. CBS News’ Elaine Quijano will be the moderator.
Despite the lack of perceived enthusiasm, these debates are not always sleepy affairs. The 2008 debate between then-Sen. Joe Biden and then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin attracted a record 69.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen Ratings. Meanwhile, Al Gore vs. Jack Kemp drew just 26.6 million viewers in 1996, the lowest since the first VP debate in 1976, according to the Times. By comparison, the first general-election debate between Clinton and Trump drew a record 84 million viewers.
Count KTTH ‘s Michael Medved as someone who will be watching, as he’s said he’d prefer a presidential race that featured Pence, Kaine and William Weld, the vice presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party, to the current options.
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Tune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 3pm for John Curley and Shari Elliker.
