Outside the Cashman Center in Las Vegas, site of Democratic debate (photos by Lynn Sweet)
LAS VEGAS, NV.--Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton went out of their way at the start of a Democratic debate here to put behind them the racial acrimony that threatened to divide Democrats.
Clinton said some of the inflammatory comments came from "exuberant" and "sometimes uncontrollable supporters.
Obama distanced himself from a memo a South Carolina staffer pushing the story questioning the Clintons' committmenent to civil rights.
John Edwards was asked what is "a white male to do?" given the historic nature of the Obama and Clinton candidacies.
The debate comes in advance of Saturday's Nevada caucus, the first western state to vote for a Democratic nominee.
Lynn Sweet is a columnist and the Washington Bureau Chief for the 
thanks you peopels.
Looking back on this, its very refreshing to see that las vegas nevada had a say in this primary season. Usually the primaries are decided long before it gets to vegas. Its good to see that we had some say this time around though. Now that obama is the nominee it will be interesting to see how nevada plays into the general election.