It was an ugly bit of political theater, but CNN’s YouTube Republican debate delivered remarkable ratings for the network, drawing 4.49 million viewers Wednesday night, making it the most-watched primary scuffle in cable news history.

According to Nielsen Media Research live-plus-same-day data, the Nov. 28 GOP debate now stands as a high-water mark, beating out CNN’s previous record of 4.07 million viewers, which it set on Nov. 15 with the latest Democratic candidate showdown.

Essentially a long-form shouting match between former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and erstwhile Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, the YouTube debate also notched the largest demo audience, averaging 1.54 million adults 25-54. The YouTube format, which was first introduced by CNN back in July during an early Democratic candidate debate, allowed voters to submit pre-recorded video queries to the candidates, a wrinkle which likely helped drive younger viewers to the news net.

According to the Nielsen figures, last night’s debate drew a record high clutch of adults 18-49 (1.3 million) and 18-34 (516,000). Nearly 40 YouTube videos were aired, with questions addressing a range of topics, including immigration, gun control, gay marriage and whether or not the candidates hewed to a literal interpretation of the Bible.

While all eight Republican candidates took their licks, most of the night’s more heated exchanges involved Giuliani and Romney, who shouted over one another and were occasionally serenaded by boos. The debate took on a personal cast at the very end of the night, when the two men began sniping about their respective baseball affiliations.

“When I was mayor of New York City, the Yankees won four world championships,” Giuliani boasted. “Since I’ve left being mayor of New York City, the Yankees have won none.”

Romney responded with a dig at the Yankees’ collapse in the 2004 American League Championship Series––and in so doing, alienated the Bronx Bombers faithful. “ True suffering Red Sox fans that my family and I are, we could not have been more happy than to see the Red Sox win the World Series, except by being able to beat the Yankees when they were ahead three games to none,” Romney gloated. “Like most Americans, we love our sports teams and we hate the Yankees.”

It wasn’t all fun and games, however. CNN took a beating in the ever-excitable blogosphere this morning when it was revealed that retired Brigadier General Keith Kerr, who posed a question about gays and lesbians serving in the military, was a co-chairman of Senator Hillary Clinton’s National Military Veterans steering committee.

“I’m a graduate of the Special Forces Officer Course, the Commanding General Staff Course and the Army War College. And I’m an openly gay man,” Kerr said by way of setting up his question. “I want to know why you think that American men and women in uniform are not professional enough to serve with gays and lesbians.”

After a few of the candidates danced around the issue, Kerr told CNN anchor and debate host Anderson Cooper that he didn’t believe that he was given a satisfactory answer to his question.

Cooper subsequently acknowledged that Kerr had ties to the Clinton camp, saying, “Had we had that information, we would have acknowledged that in using his question.”

Kerr later said that he acted in his own interests when he asked the question, adding that he had done no work for the Clinton campaign since June. He also said that he is a member of the Log Cabin Republicans.

Earlier today, CNN posted a clarification/mea culpa on its Political Ticker blog. “We regret this, and apologize to the Republican candidates,” said CNN senior vp and executive producer of the debate, David Bohrman. “We never would have used the general’s question had we known that he was connected to any presidential candidate.”

CNN added that prior to the debate, the producers had verified Kerr’s military bona fides and confirmed that the retired general had not contributed any money to Clinton or any other presidential candidate.

By Anthony Crupi, MediaWeek

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