Hillary picked the perfect night to shine: It was the highest rated debate in primary history

[Herman Munster]

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/cnn/democrats_bet_on_las_vegas_and_cnn_wins_71260.asp

The first primary debate ever held in Nevada was a hit for CNN with more than four million total viewers watching. CNN says it's the highest-rated primary debate in recorded history.

Moderated by Wolf Blitzer with questions from Campbell Brown, John Roberts, and the audience, the debate began like a rock concert, with the candidates being announced one-by-one onto the stage. CNN/U.S. president Jon Klein says what came next, is what kept viewers tuned in. The debate "didn't have the gimmicks," Klein tells TVNewser. "No speed round, no clock, no artificial time limits" on the candidates.

And no doubt, a spike in viewer ship due to Sen. Hillary Clinton's critically panned performance in Philadelphia two weeks ago. How would she fare on this night? On that point, Klein says, "the horse race gets them in the tent, but it's not going to keep them there."