All Democratic candidates will be there except Sen. Joseph Biden and Sen. Chris Dodd who say they have scheduling conflicts.

No Republican candidates agreed to participate.

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Of course not.

Why would the Republicans show up?

To get beat up in person by the people that they demonize every even-numbered year to maintain their positions?

They aren't that brave, or that stupid.
This demographic is lost to them.
Even the Log Cabin Republicans endorsed Kerry in '04.