51.4 million people watched VP debate

Over 50 million people watched the vice presidential debate on Thursday, according to The Nielsen Company.

Nielsen reported Friday that 51.4 million people tuned into the debate between Vice President Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). Those numbers are down from the 69.9 million viewers who watched Biden debate Sarah Palin in 2008. 

A week earlier, 67.2 million people watched the first presidential debate between President Obama and Republican Mitt Romney, also according to Nielsen.

Broken down by age group, seven million viewers were between the age of 18 and 34, 14 million were between 35 and 54, and 26 million were 55 years old or older.

The debate took place at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.

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