Trump gets 78 percent of CNN pre-debate coverage

Donald Trump has dominated the airwaves of CNN leading up to the second GOP presidential debate, which the network will host on Wednesday evening.

{mosads}The real-estate mogul received nearly 78 percent of CNN’s coverage of the Republican primary race from Aug. 24 to Sept. 4, according to a report issued by the conservative Media Research Center on Wednesday.

Trump was featured in 580 minutes of the network’s 747 total minutes of coverage during that span. 

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush received more than half of the remaining coverage, nearly 12 percent total, followed by retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who got over 5 percent of the network’s primary coverage. 

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina each received more than 1 percent of the primary coverage, with the rest of the candidates in the race falling below the 1 percent threshold. 

CNN is charging nearly 40 times its normal advertising rates during the debate, and Trump, who is taking credit for the windfall, has called on the network to donate the proceeds to charities for U.S. veterans. 

The former “Apprentice” host also took credit for driving up ratings of the first GOP primary debate, on Fox, which was the most-watched cable news program of all time. 

Trump has been the front-runner in the GOP field for nearly two months, currently leading nationwide by 10 points, according to a RealClearPolitics average of national polls. 

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who is also seeking the presidential nomination, has accused the media of propping up Trump’s campaign with extensive coverage, saying the businessman receives “a billion dollars worth of free advertising.”