Final McCain-Obama debate had 56.5 million viewers

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama's final debate of the U.S. presidential race drew 56.5 million television viewers, falling between the audience tallies of their two previous face-offs, ratings showed on Thursday.

Viewership of the 90-minute debate on Wednesday likely was diminished by the Fox network's baseball telecast of the decisive Game 5 victory of the Philadelphia Phillies over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

In Philadelphia, the nation's fourth-largest TV market, more viewers tuned in to the baseball game than watched the debate, Nielsen Media Research said.

(Editing by John O'Callaghan)