Last night’s debate totaled a 45.0 overnight meter-market household rating, according to Nielsen Media Research.

That’s 30% higher than Friday’s presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama, which scored a collective 34.7 rating among the broadcast and cable networks.

It’s also a stunning 60% higher than the 2004 debate between Dick Cheney and John Edwards. In fact, the figure surpasses any presidential debate since 1992’s second bout between Bill Clinton, Ross Perot and George Bush.