YouTube: Debt, jobs hot topics for next GOP debate
At the Google/FoxNews debate being held this week with Republican presidential candidates, YouTube users also most want to hear from Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
The FoxNews YouTube channel has received over 16,000 questions from people for this week's upcoming Republican presidential debate. And now, YouTube is offering some insight into the questions for the candidates.
According to the online video site, 17 percent of all questions relate to government spending and the U.S. national debt. Jobs and the economy came in second place, representing about 16 percent of all questions asked. Social issues came in at 12 percent of all questions.
On Thursday, the top Republican presidential candidates will be in Orlando, Fla., for the debate. The debate, which will air on Fox News and YouTube, is co-sponsored by Google, and a sampling of the questions sent in to candidates via YouTube will be posed to the candidates. Questions have already been filtering in from around the U.S. YouTube will close submissions at 9 tonight PT.
YouTube said that questioners are most interested in hearing from Texas Gov. Rick Perry. In fact, 500 questions have so far included Perry, easily overshadowing Rep. Ron Paul, who was the subject of about 300 questions. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was the subject of about 250 questions, YouTube said.
Finally, YouTube looked at where all those questions are coming from. The company said that people in Houston, Miami, New York, San Diego, and Austin were most actively sending in questions for candidates.
YouTube has a history of being involved in debates. In 2007, the video site partnered with CNN to co-sponsor presidential debates. During those debates, questions submitted via YouTube were aired on television. At the time, YouTube said that the idea would "revolutionize" debates.