The debate has been forecasted to command viewership of around 100 million Americans, beating the record TV audience of 80 million for the 1980 Presidential debate between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.
“My prediction is a 100 million audience, and maybe more,” said Paul Levinson, a communications professor at New York’s Fordham University and author of “McLuhan in an Age of Social Media.”
“The Super Bowl shows that when there is something that is really special, something that can command people’s interest, something you want to see on a big screen, television has this enormous power and reach,” Levinson said.
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The projection is as a result of the unprecedented nature of the campaign, according to majority of opinions, it has never been this way in the history of America, majorly as a result of the controversies surrounding the candidates.
The Republican candidate, Trump, a billionaire businessman and former reality TV star is competing to be the next Commander in Chief of the United States with Democratic nominee Mrs. Clinton, who is the first woman to for the White House and a former Secretary of State.
Mrs Clinton have however, left questions still unanswered on her role in the 2012 Benghazi attacks.
The 2012 Benghazi attack took place on the evening of September 11, 2012, when Islamic militants attacked the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, killing U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith.
Mrs. Clinton, who was the US Secretary of State then was criticized for denying requests for additional security at the consulate prior to the attack. She has however subsequently taken responsibility for the security lapses.
Trump on the other hand has been widely criticized for his temperament to serve as commander in chief, a line of attack the Clinton campaign has seized on.
He is saddled with an enormous amount of controversy and scandal, not all of which has surfaced. Some weeks back the discussions about Trump University and ongoing questions about why he won’t release his tax returns, as well as alleged connections to organized crime, along with the many comments that can be dug up about his personal life, will remain a vulnerability.
During the primaries Trump has often shown a very thin grasp of some basic policy issues. Sometimes it quickly became evident that statements he made about a certain area of policy were just wrong. And while it is true that he has been able to win the nomination anyway, ignorance can hurt when he faces off against Clinton
Meanwhile, questions over Hillary Clinton’s health have dogged her campaign in recent weeks, after she admitted a diagnosis of pneumonia.
The debate calendar starts tonight (Monday), with a head to head debate in New York State. It will take place at Hofstra University, Hempstead, and is being broadcast live on ABC News in the States.
The debate will air in the US at 9pm – which is 3am Nigerian time.