Big audience tunes in for Biden-Palin debate

NEW YORK — More people watched Thursday's vice presidential debate between Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin on television than watched the first presidential debate. Nielsen Media Research said preliminary ratings in the nation's 55 biggest markets were up 42 percent from the same measurement of Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama's encounter Sept. 26. Curiosity over Palin's performance may have played a role, but don't discount timing: More people generally watch television Thursdays than Fridays.