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| Version 12 | Version 13 |
|---|---|
| US rivals spar in first TV debate | US rivals spar in first TV debate |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US presidential rivals Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama have attacked each other over the economy and Iraq in their first TV debate. | |
| Asked about a proposed $700bn (£380bn) bail-out of the US economy, Mr Obama said it was the "final verdict" on eight years of Republican policies. | Asked about a proposed $700bn (£380bn) bail-out of the US economy, Mr Obama said it was the "final verdict" on eight years of Republican policies. |
| Senator McCain said they had "a long way to go" before the crisis was over. | Senator McCain said they had "a long way to go" before the crisis was over. |
| On Iraq, Mr McCain praised the "surge" strategy, while Mr Obama said the US military had not been "used wisely". | |
| The Democrat said he had been right to oppose the 2003 invasion of Iraq and that the US had taken its eye off the ball in Afghanistan, where it should have been pursuing al-Qaeda. | |
| Mr McCain said that as a result of the surge - which involved sending some 30,000 extra US troops to Iraq - military strategy was succeeding. We have to move swiftly and we have to move wisely Senator Barack ObamaDemocratic presidential candidate Who will show best in the debate?How should foreign policy change?Send us your comments | |
| "We are winning in Iraq and we will come home with victory and with honour," he said. | |
| The debate in Oxford, Mississippi, was due to focus on foreign policy but the economic crisis has come to the fore. | The debate in Oxford, Mississippi, was due to focus on foreign policy but the economic crisis has come to the fore. |
| Speaking about the financial bail-out plan under discussion by the US Congress, Senator Obama said: "We have to move swiftly and we have to move wisely." | |
| Mr McCain said he had tried to warn about the impending crisis in months past, saying "a lot of us saw this train wreck coming". | |
| He said that while he felt happier now Congress was closer to reaching a deal on the bail-out, it would be a long time before the situation was resolved. | |
| "This isn't the beginning of the end of this crisis," he said. "This is the end of the beginning if we come out with a package that will keep these institutions stable and we've got a lot of work to do." | "This isn't the beginning of the end of this crisis," he said. "This is the end of the beginning if we come out with a package that will keep these institutions stable and we've got a lot of work to do." |
| Mr McCain attacked Mr Obama over his record on finance, saying he had asked for millions of dollars in so-called "earmarks" - money for pet projects - since becoming a senator for the state of Illinois. | |
| Tens of millions of Americans were expected to watch the debate on TV, with only about five weeks to go before the 4 November elections. | Tens of millions of Americans were expected to watch the debate on TV, with only about five weeks to go before the 4 November elections. |
| Significant progress | Significant progress |
| Mr McCain had earlier vowed not to attend the forum in Mississippi until Congress approved the bail-out plan, but he reversed his decision after some progress was made towards a deal. | Mr McCain had earlier vowed not to attend the forum in Mississippi until Congress approved the bail-out plan, but he reversed his decision after some progress was made towards a deal. |
| Aides to both Mr Obama and his rival have sought to play down expectationsLess than 10 hours before the scheduled start of the debate at the University of Mississippi, Mr McCain's campaign announced it was "resuming all activities" and that the senator would take part. | Aides to both Mr Obama and his rival have sought to play down expectationsLess than 10 hours before the scheduled start of the debate at the University of Mississippi, Mr McCain's campaign announced it was "resuming all activities" and that the senator would take part. |
| Mr McCain was now optimistic that there had been "significant progress towards a bi-partisan agreement" on the bail-out, the campaign statement said. | Mr McCain was now optimistic that there had been "significant progress towards a bi-partisan agreement" on the bail-out, the campaign statement said. |
| "Following the debate, he will return to Washington to ensure that all voices and interests are represented in the final agreement, especially those of taxpayers and homeowners," it added. | "Following the debate, he will return to Washington to ensure that all voices and interests are represented in the final agreement, especially those of taxpayers and homeowners," it added. |
| Speaking to reporters on his way to the debate, Senator Obama said: "My strong sense is that the best thing I can do, rather than to inject presidential politics into some delicate negotiations, is to go down to Mississippi and explain to the American people what is going on." | Speaking to reporters on his way to the debate, Senator Obama said: "My strong sense is that the best thing I can do, rather than to inject presidential politics into some delicate negotiations, is to go down to Mississippi and explain to the American people what is going on." |
| The BBC's Jamie Coomarasamy in Mississippi says this debate would have been a huge set-piece event under any circumstances - but the economic crisis and its political fallout have only heightened the sense of drama. | The BBC's Jamie Coomarasamy in Mississippi says this debate would have been a huge set-piece event under any circumstances - but the economic crisis and its political fallout have only heightened the sense of drama. |
| Deadlock | |
| The US Commission on Presidential Debates had warned that Friday's debate would go ahead with or without Mr McCain. | |
| Mr Obama had always insisted he would attend the event. | |
| The topics for the 90-minute discussion are national security and foreign policy, considered Mr McCain's strengths, although correspondents say the financial crisis is almost certain to be discussed. | The topics for the 90-minute discussion are national security and foreign policy, considered Mr McCain's strengths, although correspondents say the financial crisis is almost certain to be discussed. |
| Talks between Congressional leaders and President George W Bush on a proposed $700bn (£380bn) package resumed on Friday morning after ending in deadlock on Thursday evening. | Talks between Congressional leaders and President George W Bush on a proposed $700bn (£380bn) package resumed on Friday morning after ending in deadlock on Thursday evening. |
| The proposal ran into renewed difficulties when some Republican congressmen withheld their approval, offering an alternative scheme. | The proposal ran into renewed difficulties when some Republican congressmen withheld their approval, offering an alternative scheme. |
| In a statement on Friday, Mr Bush conceded that there were disagreements over aspects of the plan, but stressed everyone agreed something substantial had to be done. | In a statement on Friday, Mr Bush conceded that there were disagreements over aspects of the plan, but stressed everyone agreed something substantial had to be done. |
| You can follow a live text commentary with video of the first presidential debate from 0100 GMT on the BBC News website. | You can follow a live text commentary with video of the first presidential debate from 0100 GMT on the BBC News website. |