Presidential Hopefuls Senators Barack Obama and John McCain First Joint Appearance in Campaign

Photo above: Camera operators capture the historical Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency with Sens. Barack Obama (D) and John McCain (R), hosted by Pastor Rick Warren. CREDIT: Jack Barry, PICS Saddleback Church

Lake Forest, Calif., - Presidential hopefuls Senators Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John McCain (R- Ariz.) chose an unprecedented venue and format for their first joint appearance in the campaign. For the first time in American history, the presumptive nominees had a formal, televised conversation with one of the nation's leading pastors - Dr. Rick Warren of Saddleback Church -- at the Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency. This non-debate format event was broadcast live on several television and radio networks and live-streamed on many Internet sites.

"We believe in the separation of church and state, but we do not believe in the separation of faith and politics," Warren said. "I don't happen to agree with everything either of the candidates teach or believe, but they both care deeply about America. They're both patriots and they have very different views on how our nation can be strengthened. We've got to learn to disagree without demonizing each other and we need to restore civility in our civil discourse and that's the goal of the Saddleback Civil Forum."

Photo below: Senator Barack Obama is greeted by Pastor Rick Warren in the green room just prior to the beginning of the Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency. CREDIT: Scott Tokar, PICS Saddleback Church

The two-hour event, attended by nearly 5,000 church members in the main auditorium and remote overflow venues, began with Warren posing questions first to Sen. Obama, as determined by a coin toss, after which the two candidates met on stage and embraced in one of their last appearances prior to their respective conventions. The second half of the program featured the same questions directed to Sen. McCain by Warren, who stressed that the candidate had been placed "under a cone of silence" prior to his turn on stage.