Watch the multi-candidate pile-up at the GOP debate

Awkward introductions at GOP New Hampshire debate

There was a bit of a stumble at the start of Saturday night's Republican debate when former neurosurgeon Ben Carson missed his cue to walk onto the stage, leading to a multi-candidate pile up offstage.

Carson, who seemed to not hear his name announced, paused offstage while the camera stayed on him. Carson started to walk toward the stage again, but paused when the moderators called Ted Cruz's name. He stood aside as the Texas senator gave a gesture of confusion and walked past him. Then businessman Donald Trump was called, but he joined Carson and waited at the entrance. So when Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida was called, he walked past both men onto the stage. So did former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Then the moderators called for Ohio Gov. John Kasich, but he didn't come out. Amid the confusion, moderator Martha Raddatz from ABC announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Republican candidates."

The other moderator, David Muir, jumped in.

"Dr. Ben Carson, please come out on the stage. He's standing there, as well. Dr. Carson."

"And Donald Trump," Raddatz added. Then, Muir joined in.

"And lastly, we welcome back to the debate stage Donald Trump," he said.

But Kasich was still waiting in the entryway.

"What about Kasich? Can I introduce Kasich?" asked New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who had made it onstage without incident.

"It was so noisy in here. Yes. Yes. We're going to introduce Ohio Governor John Kasich," Muir said.

"The applause so loud you couldn't hear," Raddatz explained. "We couldn't hear, either. That's a good sign for the excitement this evening."

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