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US rivals spar in first TV debate US rivals spar in first TV debate
(10 minutes later)
US presidential rivals Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama have attacked each other over foreign policy and the economy, in their first debate.US presidential rivals Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama have attacked each other over foreign policy and the economy, in their first 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.
On Iraq, Mr McCain praised the "surge" strategy, while Mr Obama said the US military had not been "used wisely".On Iraq, Mr McCain praised the "surge" strategy, while Mr Obama said the US military had not been "used wisely".
Neither landed a knockout blow but polls suggested Mr Obama may have won.Neither landed a knockout blow but polls suggested Mr Obama may have won.
An immediate telephone poll by CNN and Opinion Research Corp found 51% said Mr Obama had done the better job, to 38% for Mr McCain.An immediate telephone poll by CNN and Opinion Research Corp found 51% said Mr Obama had done the better job, to 38% for Mr McCain.
A poll of uncommitted voters by CBS News found that 39% gave Mr Obama victory, 25% thought John McCain had won, and 36% thought it was a draw.A poll of uncommitted voters by CBS News found that 39% gave Mr Obama victory, 25% thought John McCain had won, and 36% thought it was a draw.
Both campaigns claimed victory, with Mr McCain's team saying their candidate had shown a "mastery on national security issues" while Mr Obama's aides said he had passed the commander-in-chief test "with flying colours". This isn't the beginning of the end of this crisis. This is the end of the beginning Senator John McCainRepublican presidential candidate Analysis: McCain wins on pointsHow should foreign policy change?Send us your comments Both campaigns claimed victory, with Mr McCain's team saying their candidate had shown a "mastery on national security issues" while Mr Obama's aides said he had passed the commander-in-chief test "with flying colours". All things considered, it's about a draw Matthew Yglesias, Think Progress class="" href="/2/hi/americas/7639103.stm">First presidential debate scorecard class="" href="/2/hi/americas/7639102.stm">Analysis: McCain wins on pointsHow should foreign policy change?Send us your comments
Senator McCain said he did not believe his rival had the experience to lead.Senator McCain said he did not believe his rival had the experience to lead.
"I don't think I need any on-the-job training. I'm ready to go at it right now," he added."I don't think I need any on-the-job training. I'm ready to go at it right now," he added.
But Senator Obama said Mr McCain had been "wrong" about invading Iraq and that the war had led the US to take its eye off the ball in Afghanistan, where it should have been pursuing al-Qaeda.But Senator Obama said Mr McCain had been "wrong" about invading Iraq and that the war had led the US to take its eye off the ball in Afghanistan, where it should have been pursuing al-Qaeda.
"We don't have enough troops to deal with Afghanistan," he said."We don't have enough troops to deal with Afghanistan," he said.
Mr McCain argued that as a result of the surge - which involved sending some 30,000 extra US troops to Iraq - US military strategy was succeeding.Mr McCain argued that as a result of the surge - which involved sending some 30,000 extra US troops to Iraq - US military strategy was succeeding.
"We are winning in Iraq and we will come home with victory and with honour," he said."We are winning in Iraq and we will come home with victory and with honour," he said.
Mr McCain said there was "a lot of work to do in Afghanistan" but that he was confident that the top US commander, General David Petraeus, would succeed there.Mr McCain said there was "a lot of work to do in Afghanistan" but that he was confident that the top US commander, General David Petraeus, would succeed there.
The televised debate in Oxford, Mississippi, focused largely on foreign policy but began with discussion of the economic crisis gripping the US.The televised debate in Oxford, Mississippi, focused largely on foreign policy but began with discussion of the economic crisis gripping the US.
Speaking about the financial bail-out plan under discussion by the US Congress, Mr Obama said: "We have to move swiftly and we have to move wisely."Speaking about the financial bail-out plan under discussion by the US Congress, Mr Obama said: "We have to move swiftly and we have to move wisely."
Tens of millions of Americans were expected to watch the debateTens of millions of Americans were expected to watch the debate
Mr McCain said he believed it would be a long time before the situation was resolved.Mr McCain said he believed 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 - as an Illinois senator.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 - as an Illinois senator.
The Republican also suggested a spending freeze in many areas apart from defence, but Mr Obama likened the proposal to using a hatchet when a scalpel was needed.The Republican also suggested a spending freeze in many areas apart from defence, but Mr Obama likened the proposal to using a hatchet when a scalpel was needed.
Both candidates agreed that the bail-out plan would put massive pressure on the budget of the next president and mean cuts in government spending.Both candidates agreed that the bail-out plan would put massive pressure on the budget of the next president and mean cuts in government spending.
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.
'Serious threat''Serious threat'
Asked about Iran, Mr McCain stressed that Tehran was a threat to the region and, through its interference in Iraq, to US troops deployed there.Asked about Iran, Mr McCain stressed that Tehran was a threat to the region and, through its interference in Iraq, to US troops deployed there.
John McCain and Barack Obama on dealing with IranJohn McCain and Barack Obama on dealing with Iran
He outlined a proposal for a "league of democracies" to push through painful sanctions against Tehran that were presently being blocked in bodies like the United Nations because of opposition from Russia.He outlined a proposal for a "league of democracies" to push through painful sanctions against Tehran that were presently being blocked in bodies like the United Nations because of opposition from Russia.
He criticised Mr Obama for his previously stated willingness to hold talks with the leaders of Iran without preconditions.He criticised Mr Obama for his previously stated willingness to hold talks with the leaders of Iran without preconditions.
Mr Obama rejected that criticism, saying he would reserve the right as president "to meet with anybody at a time and place of my choosing if I think it's going to keep America safe".Mr Obama rejected that criticism, saying he would reserve the right as president "to meet with anybody at a time and place of my choosing if I think it's going to keep America safe".
However, he said he agreed with his Republican rival that "we cannot tolerate a nuclear Iran" and the threat that that would pose to Israel, a staunch US ally.However, he said he agreed with his Republican rival that "we cannot tolerate a nuclear Iran" and the threat that that would pose to Israel, a staunch US ally.
'Safer today''Safer today'
Mr McCain accused Mr Obama of "a little bit of naivete" in his initial response to the conflict between Georgia and Russia.Mr McCain accused Mr Obama of "a little bit of naivete" in his initial response to the conflict between Georgia and Russia.
Mr Obama said that recent events meant "our entire Russian approach has to be evaluated because a resurgent and very aggressive Russia is a threat to the peace and stability of the region". One of the things I intend to do as president is restore America's standing in the world Senator Barack ObamaDemocratic presidential candidateMr Obama said that recent events meant "our entire Russian approach has to be evaluated because a resurgent and very aggressive Russia is a threat to the peace and stability of the region". One of the things I intend to do as president is restore America's standing in the world Senator Barack ObamaDemocratic presidential candidate
Speaking about the so-called war on terror, Mr McCain said he believed the nation was safer than it had been the day after the 11 September 2001 terror attacks but there was still a long way to go.Speaking about the so-called war on terror, Mr McCain said he believed the nation was safer than it had been the day after the 11 September 2001 terror attacks but there was still a long way to go.
Mr Obama pointed to the spread of al-Qaeda to some 60 countries and said that the US had to do more to combat that, including improving its own image as a "beacon of light" on rights.Mr Obama pointed to the spread of al-Qaeda to some 60 countries and said that the US had to do more to combat that, including improving its own image as a "beacon of light" on rights.
"One of the things I intend to do as president is restore America's standing in the world," Mr Obama said."One of the things I intend to do as president is restore America's standing in the world," Mr Obama said.
Mr McCain sought to distance himself from President George W Bush's administration, which has very low public approval ratings.Mr McCain sought to distance himself from President George W Bush's administration, which has very low public approval ratings.
"I have opposed the president on spending, on climate change, on torture of prisoners, on Guantanamo Bay, on the way that the Iraq war was conducted," he said."I have opposed the president on spending, on climate change, on torture of prisoners, on Guantanamo Bay, on the way that the Iraq war was conducted," he said.
"I have a long record and the American people know me very well... a maverick of the Senate.""I have a long record and the American people know me very well... a maverick of the Senate."
Mr McCain had earlier vowed not to attend the forum in Mississippi until Congress approved the economic 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 economic bail-out plan, but he reversed his decision after some progress was made towards a deal.