How many debates were there in 2020? Trump - Biden TV audience ratings from 4 years ago

Tonight’s debate between between presumptive party nominees President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump is expected to attract millions of viewers.

Hosted by CNN, it’s the first time the debate will not be sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates, which has held the event since 1988. The event will also take place earlier than usual, happening even before the national party conventions.

This is the first of two debates that the candidates have agreed to this election season, the second one to be held in September.

Tonight will be the third time Biden and Trump will face off on such a platform.

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How many debates were there in 2020? Trump - Biden TV audience ratings from 4 years ago

The first presidential debate between the two took place on Sept. 29, 2020, marked by hostility and attacks on each other’s character. The event, moderated by Chris Wallace of Fox News, attracted 73.1 million viewers, according to media and market research company Nielsen.

The second debate was supposed to take place in Miami on Oct. 15, 2020, but was canceled after Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and refused to take part in a virtual event that was offered as an alternative. He said a virtual debate was a”joke” during an interview with Fox News.

After the cancellation, what was supposed to be the third debate was held on Oct. 22, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee, just days before election day on Nov. 3. The final debate drew in 62.9 million viewers, per Nielsen.

According to the Pew Research Center, surveys conducted from 1988 through 2016 showed that majority of voters believed the debates were helpful in deciding which candidate to choose.