Democrat’s third primary debate

The struggles of the nation's blacks (a loyal Democratic voting bloc) topped the agenda as the party's eight presidential candidates gathered for their third primary debate. The debate at Howard University was set to begin just hours after the Supreme Court ruled against public school programs aimed at achieving racial diversity, a certain topic for the event. The Democrats decried the ruling, saying it turned back the promise of integrated schools that the court laid out 53 years ago in its landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education.

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said as president, she would "fight to restore Brown's promise." Illinois Sen. Barack Obama said it was "wrong-headed." Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd said the decision "will add to the resegregation that is already occurring in our nation's schools." John Edwards said the decision showed what is at stake in the presidential race.