Before Sunday's Big Apple debate, John Edwards, middle, shakes John Kerry's hand before taking off the gloves, as Dennis Kucinich looks on.
On one side of the table sat CBS News anchor Dan Rather, flanked by CBS 2 political reporter Andrew Kirtzman and New York Times White House Correspondent Elizabeth Bumiller. On the other side sat the candidates: John Kerry, Rev. Al Sharpton, John Edwards, and Dennis Kucinich.
Bumiller, Rather, and Kirtzman (seated) get prepped for the hour-long live telecast.
Kucinich makes a point as his fellow candidates react.
Edwards focuses on Kucinich.
Kerry gets the ears of his opponents.
Kerry listens intently to a question from the other side of the table.
Edwards has the floor.
Edwards: Is he the guy who has most of "the Elvis"?
Rev. Sharpton makes a point.
During the debate, Rev. Sharpton admonished the media not to count him (or Kucinich) out of the race.
The crew behind the televised debate.
Behind the scenes, moderator Rather engages in conversation.