2nd Obama-Romney debate drew 65.6 million viewers

President Barack Obama, right, listens as Republican presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney answers a question from a member of the audience during the second presidential debate at Hofstra University on October 16, 2012, in Hempstead, N.Y. Some 65.6 million people watched the second televised debate ney, a survey showed Wednesday. AP/MARY ALTAFFER

WASHINGTON—Some 65.6 million people watched the second televised debate between President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney, a survey showed Wednesday.

The Nielsen survey found Tuesday night’s audience was nearly as large as the 67 million who watched the first face-off on October 3. But turnout was 2.4 million larger than the second presidential debate in 2008 between Obama and Republican John McCain.

The town hall-style debate was carried across 12 networks, including 10 showing live coverage and two providing a tape delay.

Obama was widely perceived to have rebounded from his weak performance in the first contest, and put Romney on the defensive.

The record for debates, 80.6 million, was recorded in 1980 for president Jimmy Carter’s confrontation with Ronald Reagan, according to Nielsen.