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Democratic presidential hopefuls squared off in Orangeburg, S.C., in the first primary debate of the 2008 presidential race. On hand were Senators Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Chris Dodd, and Joe Biden.
Joining them were Former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, and 2004 Vice Presidential Nominee John Edwards.
NPR Political Editor Ken Rudin, who watched the debate in Orangeburg, tells Melissa Block that Obama and Clinton kept a cordial tone throughout, often referring to one another as "my friend."
The debate came nine months before the first scheduled primary next year.
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