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Obama comes out swinging at Romney after debate | Obama comes out swinging at Romney after debate |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US President Barack Obama has accused Mitt Romney of being dishonest, after a televised debate that most observers agreed his Republican rival won. | US President Barack Obama has accused Mitt Romney of being dishonest, after a televised debate that most observers agreed his Republican rival won. |
Speaking in Denver, Colorado, Mr Obama urged his rival to tell the "truth" about his own policies. | Speaking in Denver, Colorado, Mr Obama urged his rival to tell the "truth" about his own policies. |
A total of 67.2 million people watched Wednesday's debate, the Nielsen TV ratings service href="http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/media_entertainment/first-presidential-debate-draws-67-2-million-viewers/" >announced. | |
The Obama campaign has said there will be some "adjustments" in strategy before the election on 6 November. | The Obama campaign has said there will be some "adjustments" in strategy before the election on 6 November. |
A Reuters/Ipsos poll on Thursday suggested Mr Romney had a net positive rating for the first time in the presidential campaign. | A Reuters/Ipsos poll on Thursday suggested Mr Romney had a net positive rating for the first time in the presidential campaign. |
The poll said 51% of voters viewed him positively, with Mr Obama at 56%. The Republican moved ahead of the president on which candidate voters trust to handle the economy, create jobs and manage the deficit. | The poll said 51% of voters viewed him positively, with Mr Obama at 56%. The Republican moved ahead of the president on which candidate voters trust to handle the economy, create jobs and manage the deficit. |
'Big Bird' | 'Big Bird' |
Mr Obama told a rally of some 12,000 supporters on Thursday: "When I got on to the stage, I met this very spirited fellow who claimed to be Mitt Romney. | Mr Obama told a rally of some 12,000 supporters on Thursday: "When I got on to the stage, I met this very spirited fellow who claimed to be Mitt Romney. |
"But it couldn't have been Mitt Romney, because the real Mitt Romney has been running around the country for the last year promising $5 trillion in tax cuts that favour the wealthy. The fellow on stage last night said he didn't know anything about that." | "But it couldn't have been Mitt Romney, because the real Mitt Romney has been running around the country for the last year promising $5 trillion in tax cuts that favour the wealthy. The fellow on stage last night said he didn't know anything about that." |
The president continued the theme in front of an estimated crowd of 30,000 people on the campus of University of Wisconsin-Madison later in the day. | The president continued the theme in front of an estimated crowd of 30,000 people on the campus of University of Wisconsin-Madison later in the day. |
At a campaign rally in Virginia on Thursday evening, Mr Romney did not respond directly to the president's criticism. | At a campaign rally in Virginia on Thursday evening, Mr Romney did not respond directly to the president's criticism. |
But he did argue that Mr Obama had failed during the debate to make his case for another term. | But he did argue that Mr Obama had failed during the debate to make his case for another term. |
Race to the White HouseSee more polls on our poll tracker | Race to the White HouseSee more polls on our poll tracker |
"I got the chance to ask the president questions people across the country have wanted to ask him." Mr Romney said. | "I got the chance to ask the president questions people across the country have wanted to ask him." Mr Romney said. |
"Such as why is it he wanted to push through Obamacare at a time when we had 23 million people out of work?" | "Such as why is it he wanted to push through Obamacare at a time when we had 23 million people out of work?" |
During Wednesday night's head-to-head Mr Romney repeatedly denied the $5tn (£3tn) claim. | During Wednesday night's head-to-head Mr Romney repeatedly denied the $5tn (£3tn) claim. |
Fact-checkers have said that Mr Romney's proposal to lower taxes by 20%, abolish estate tax and the alternative minimum tax would reduce revenue by $5tn over a decade. | Fact-checkers have said that Mr Romney's proposal to lower taxes by 20%, abolish estate tax and the alternative minimum tax would reduce revenue by $5tn over a decade. |
The Republican has said he would help offset that by eliminating tax loopholes; the non-partisan Tax Policy Center says the sums do not add up. | The Republican has said he would help offset that by eliminating tax loopholes; the non-partisan Tax Policy Center says the sums do not add up. |
Mr Obama told Thursday's rally: "So Governor Romney may dance around his positions. But if you want to be president, you owe the American people the truth. | Mr Obama told Thursday's rally: "So Governor Romney may dance around his positions. But if you want to be president, you owe the American people the truth. |
"So here is the truth. Governor Romney cannot pay for his $5 trillion tax plan without blowing up the deficit or sticking it to the middle class. That's the math. We can't afford to go down that road again." | "So here is the truth. Governor Romney cannot pay for his $5 trillion tax plan without blowing up the deficit or sticking it to the middle class. That's the math. We can't afford to go down that road again." |
The Democratic president also mocked Mr Romney's plan to cut government subsidies for the PBS television channel that produces Sesame Street. | The Democratic president also mocked Mr Romney's plan to cut government subsidies for the PBS television channel that produces Sesame Street. |
Mr Romney said during the debate: "I love Big Bird", adding that would not stop him axing federal funding to the public broadcaster. | Mr Romney said during the debate: "I love Big Bird", adding that would not stop him axing federal funding to the public broadcaster. |
"Thank goodness somebody is finally getting tough on Big Bird," Mr Obama told Thursday's rally. "It is about time. We didn't know that Big Bird was driving the federal deficit." | "Thank goodness somebody is finally getting tough on Big Bird," Mr Obama told Thursday's rally. "It is about time. We didn't know that Big Bird was driving the federal deficit." |
'Damage control' | 'Damage control' |
Romney campaign spokesman Ryan Williams dismissed the president's attack. | Romney campaign spokesman Ryan Williams dismissed the president's attack. |
"In full damage-control mode, President Obama today offered no defence of his record and no vision for the future," he said. | "In full damage-control mode, President Obama today offered no defence of his record and no vision for the future," he said. |
Obama strategist David Axelrod told reporters on a conference call that the campaign would now rethink its strategy. | Obama strategist David Axelrod told reporters on a conference call that the campaign would now rethink its strategy. |
"We are going to take a hard look at this," he said. "I'm sure we will make adjustments as to where to draw the line in these debates and how to use our time." | "We are going to take a hard look at this," he said. "I'm sure we will make adjustments as to where to draw the line in these debates and how to use our time." |
The candidates went head to head on Wednesday for 90 minutes on jobs, taxes and healthcare. | The candidates went head to head on Wednesday for 90 minutes on jobs, taxes and healthcare. |
Opinion polls agreed that Mr Romney had the upper hand in the debate - the first of three between the White House rivals. | Opinion polls agreed that Mr Romney had the upper hand in the debate - the first of three between the White House rivals. |
Various surveys gave Mr Romney a 46-67% margin, with Mr Obama trailing on 22-25%. | Various surveys gave Mr Romney a 46-67% margin, with Mr Obama trailing on 22-25%. |
The president was criticised for appearing hesitant and subdued, while the former governor - who has been lagging in the race - seemed animated and assertive. | The president was criticised for appearing hesitant and subdued, while the former governor - who has been lagging in the race - seemed animated and assertive. |
Vice-presidential candidates Joe Biden and Paul Ryan will meet in Danville, Kentucky on 11 October, before the second presidential debate on 16 October. | Vice-presidential candidates Joe Biden and Paul Ryan will meet in Danville, Kentucky on 11 October, before the second presidential debate on 16 October. |