For the first time in the presidential campaign, all the Democrats and Republicans running for election (well, except for a couple) appeared together on the same stage. After the Republican half of the ABC News/Facebook debate in New Hampshire, moderator Charlie Gibson turned to the audience, and asked for the them to stay in place for a minute.
He said, “Since tonight is unique and since we have candidates of both parties here, I want to ask all of them to share the stage for a moment, just greet one another, as evidence in one year, that we will all come together to support our new president.”
Sen. Barack Obama and John Edwards came out from one side with Sen. Hillary Clinton and Gov. Bill Richardson on the other side, and joined the six Republicans on the stage. The audience’s applause lasted for several minutes while the two parties shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.