Having them seated together,makes it look like the whole room is standing up,not just half.
Once again proving the concept behind the moniker "stupid party."
I watched a few mins off and on, with no sound, and the Repubs handed Obama a clear victory, by sitting with the Dems. IDIOTIC of them to do it. You are right, it looked, to this casual observer, that (mostly) the entire audience was giving standing ovations.