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Who Are The Other Three Presidential Candidates Debating Hillary Clinton And Bernie Sanders Tonight?

Do Chafee, O'Malley and Webb ring a bell?

Unlike on the Republican side, where more than a dozen candidates are still scratching and clawing to make it out of the shadow of Donald Trump, things are a bit more orderly on the Democratic side. And, chances are that after tonight's (Oct. 12) first debate, they might get even more clear for current poll leaders Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

While early scenarios had former Secretary of State Clinton running away with the contest, Sanders has put up a strong fight, leading Clinton in polling in crucial early states like New Hampshire and Iowa and almost matching her fundraising in the past quarter, even as she outspent him 2-to-1.

They've agreed not to attack each other personally at the first Democratic debate in Las Vegas, but in case you hadn't heard, there are actually three other candidates who'll join them in Sin City — each hoping the prime-time exposure will boost their floundering campaigns. (There's actually a fourth candidate, Harvard Prof. Lawrence Lessig, but he didn't make the cut for the debate. And, don't forget, CNN has set up an extra lectern for Vice President Joe Biden... just in case he decides to parachute in at the very, very last moment.)

But who are these other three White House wannabes, and why should we spend two-and-a-half hours with them?

Lincoln Chafee

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Candidates For President Attend Iowa Democrat'

Previous government gigs: Governor of Rhode Island (2011-2015), U.S. Senator from Rhode Island (1999-2007), Mayor of Warwick (1992-1999), Warwick City Council (1986-1990). While still identified as a Republican, Chafee was appointed in 1999 to serve out the Senate term of his late father, John Chafee, and then won a second term on his own. Chafee split with the GOP in September 2007 and served one term as Gov. of R.I. as an independent.

Things he wants you to remember: He was the only Republican senator to vote against authorizing use of force to push out Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 2002, and voted for President Obama twice — even serving as his campaign co-chair in 2012. Really loves the metric system.

Things he doesn't want you to remember: He was a Republican, then an Independent and now is a Democrat. No candidate who has switched between the two major parties has ever been elected president. EVER. (Sorry, Ronald Reagan was a Democrat before he took any major office.)

Hobbies: Blacksmithing. Chafee went to horseshoe school and is proficient at shoeing horses.

Current poll position: 0.3%.

Martin O'Malley

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Candidates For President Attend Iowa Democrat'

Previous government gigs: Governor of Maryland (2007-2015), Mayor of Baltimore (1999-2007), Baltimore City Councilman (1991-1999).

Things he wants you to remember: He was named "The Best Young Mayor in the Country" by Esquire magazine in 2002 and one of America's "Top 5 Big City Mayors" by Time in 2005 for, among other things, dispatching cops to help the elderly get necessities during blizzards and helping generate a $350 million budget surplus.

Things he doesn't want you to remember: When he was running for governor in 2006 he claimed violent crime went down nearly 40% when he was mayor, but some said the statistics he used were questionable.

Hobbies: Plays guitar and sings in the popular Celtic rock band O'Malley's March.

Current poll position: 0.4 percent.

Jim Webb

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Presidential Candidate Ben Carson And Jim Webb Address National Sheriff'

Previous government gigs: Assistant Secretary Of Defense for Reserve Affairs (1984-1987), United States Secretary of the Navy (1987-1988), U.S. Senator from Virginia (2007-2013).

Things he wants you to remember: He served in the Marines in Vietnam, earning a Navy Cross for heroism, a Silver Star, two Bronze stars and two Purple Hearts. He also supported increased veteran's benefits and criminal justice system reform while in the Senate.

Things he doesn't want you to remember: He once wrote an article while teaching at the Naval Academy entitled "Women Can't Fight."

Hobbies: He has written six novels, the nonfiction overview of the influence of Scots-Irish ancestors in the U.S., "Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America," as well as the 2015 memoir "I Heard My Country Calling: A Memoir."

Current poll position: 0.9 percent.

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