Obama Spot Snags 22% of Viewers

Just about a fifth of watchers in big US media markets tuned in to last night’s Barack Obama infomercial, even though the spot aired on four of five major networks, the Chicago Tribune reports. The highest ratings were in Baltimore, where a little less than a third of families caught the 30-minute spot.

Obama did score better with viewers than the last candidate who aired a simulcast, independent Ross Perot in 1996. About 17% of viewers caught that broadcast, compared with Obama’s 22%. Of large markets, Portland, Ore., seemed most allergic to Obama’s message, with just 14.2% of households tuning in. The figures come from Nielsen’s poll of 56 top markets across the country. (More Barack Obama stories.)