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US election: Obama and Romney clash in Denver US election: Obama and Romney clash in Denver
(35 minutes later)
By Adam Blenford BBC News, DenverBy Adam Blenford BBC News, Denver
US President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney have clashed over their economic plans in the first of three televised debates.US President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney have clashed over their economic plans in the first of three televised debates.
In their Denver duel, the candidates contrasted their approach on taxes, the deficit and healthcare.In their Denver duel, the candidates contrasted their approach on taxes, the deficit and healthcare.
Mr Obama said he would ensure Americans were "playing by the same rules". His rival said re-electing Mr Obama would continue a "middle-class squeeze".Mr Obama said he would ensure Americans were "playing by the same rules". His rival said re-electing Mr Obama would continue a "middle-class squeeze".
The president has held a narrow lead in recent opinion polls.The president has held a narrow lead in recent opinion polls.
He went into the debate ahead in national polls and in many surveys in the swing states that will decide the election.He went into the debate ahead in national polls and in many surveys in the swing states that will decide the election.
Trickle-down v top-downTrickle-down v top-down
But he faced a confident opponent on the debate stage, with Mr Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, sounding bullish throughout.But he faced a confident opponent on the debate stage, with Mr Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, sounding bullish throughout.
Mitt Romney had been practising hard. And it paid off. He was animated, in command of his information, overriding the moderator and interrupting the president. He seemed to be in charge and enjoying the scrap.Mitt Romney had been practising hard. And it paid off. He was animated, in command of his information, overriding the moderator and interrupting the president. He seemed to be in charge and enjoying the scrap.
On the other hand, President Obama started out looking very nervous, and although he warmed up and got into his stride, he ended up giving overlong, mini-lectures straight to camera rather than engaging and arguing.On the other hand, President Obama started out looking very nervous, and although he warmed up and got into his stride, he ended up giving overlong, mini-lectures straight to camera rather than engaging and arguing.
He seemed unwilling to actually debate with his opponent and missed a few obvious openings when he should have challenged. This may be deliberate. Perhaps his team decided that he shouldn't get riled, so it was best not to get into a fight. If so, he held back too much.He seemed unwilling to actually debate with his opponent and missed a few obvious openings when he should have challenged. This may be deliberate. Perhaps his team decided that he shouldn't get riled, so it was best not to get into a fight. If so, he held back too much.
If Mr Romney clearly won this debate, in terms of style at least, he can't celebrate too hard just yet. If the polls don't move after a win, then he really is in trouble.If Mr Romney clearly won this debate, in terms of style at least, he can't celebrate too hard just yet. If the polls don't move after a win, then he really is in trouble.
By contrast, the president at times appeared hesitant, occasionally asking moderator Jim Lehrer, of US public television network PBS, for time to finish his points.By contrast, the president at times appeared hesitant, occasionally asking moderator Jim Lehrer, of US public television network PBS, for time to finish his points.
Throughout the debate, each man attempted to paint his rival as a disaster for working American families.Throughout the debate, each man attempted to paint his rival as a disaster for working American families.
They traded barbs on their economic plans, with Mr Obama describing his rival's approach as "top-down economics" and a retread of Bush-era policies.They traded barbs on their economic plans, with Mr Obama describing his rival's approach as "top-down economics" and a retread of Bush-era policies.
"If you think by closing [tax] loopholes and deductions for the well-to-do, somehow you will not end up picking up the tab, then Governor Romney's plan may work for you," he said."If you think by closing [tax] loopholes and deductions for the well-to-do, somehow you will not end up picking up the tab, then Governor Romney's plan may work for you," he said.
"But I think math, common sense, and our history shows us that's not a recipe for job growth.""But I think math, common sense, and our history shows us that's not a recipe for job growth."
Mr Romney derided Mr Obama's policies as "trickle-down government".Mr Romney derided Mr Obama's policies as "trickle-down government".
"The president has a view very similar to the one he had when he ran for office four years ago, that spending more, taxing more, regulating more - if you will, trickle-down government - would work," Mr Romney said."The president has a view very similar to the one he had when he ran for office four years ago, that spending more, taxing more, regulating more - if you will, trickle-down government - would work," Mr Romney said.
"That's not the right answer for America.""That's not the right answer for America."
Mr Romney pledged not to reduce taxes for wealthy Americans, and said Mr Obama had misrepresented Mr Romney's tax plans on the campaign trail.Mr Romney pledged not to reduce taxes for wealthy Americans, and said Mr Obama had misrepresented Mr Romney's tax plans on the campaign trail.
He hit out at the president for failing to cut the budget deficit in half as he pledged in 2008, and insisted that the US must not allow itself to go down the path of Greece or Spain.He hit out at the president for failing to cut the budget deficit in half as he pledged in 2008, and insisted that the US must not allow itself to go down the path of Greece or Spain.
Clashing repeatedly with Lehrer over the time clock, Mr Romney said that in order to reduce the $1.1tn US budget deficit he would repeal Mr Obama's 2010 healthcare law and cut other unspecified programmes.Clashing repeatedly with Lehrer over the time clock, Mr Romney said that in order to reduce the $1.1tn US budget deficit he would repeal Mr Obama's 2010 healthcare law and cut other unspecified programmes.
Mr Obama deflected criticism of his fiscal management, highlighting Mr Romney's pledge not to raise additional tax revenue. He said Mr Romney's approach to deficit reduction was "unbalanced" as a result.Mr Obama deflected criticism of his fiscal management, highlighting Mr Romney's pledge not to raise additional tax revenue. He said Mr Romney's approach to deficit reduction was "unbalanced" as a result.
"There has to be revenue in addition to cuts," Mr Obama said."There has to be revenue in addition to cuts," Mr Obama said.
Clash on 'Obamacare'Clash on 'Obamacare'
On healthcare, Mr Romney said that Mr Obama's "Obamacare" reform law of 2010 had increased health costs and kept small businesses from hiring.On healthcare, Mr Romney said that Mr Obama's "Obamacare" reform law of 2010 had increased health costs and kept small businesses from hiring.

Race to the White House

See more polls on our poll tracker

Race to the White House

See more polls on our poll tracker
Even as he pledged to repeal Mr Obama's health law, Mr Romney praised and defended a plan he himself had previously signed as governor of Massachusetts that is widely hailed as the model for the Obama law.Even as he pledged to repeal Mr Obama's health law, Mr Romney praised and defended a plan he himself had previously signed as governor of Massachusetts that is widely hailed as the model for the Obama law.
Mr Obama, meanwhile, said his plan had kept insurance companies from denying coverage to sick people.Mr Obama, meanwhile, said his plan had kept insurance companies from denying coverage to sick people.
As the debate ended, each candidate's allies rushed to talk up their man's performance.As the debate ended, each candidate's allies rushed to talk up their man's performance.
"The average person at home saw a president who you could trust," Obama adviser David Plouffe told reporters. "That's what the American people are looking for.""The average person at home saw a president who you could trust," Obama adviser David Plouffe told reporters. "That's what the American people are looking for."
But senior Romney aide Eric Fehrnstrom said the president had spoken "only in platitudes".But senior Romney aide Eric Fehrnstrom said the president had spoken "only in platitudes".
"If this was a boxing match, it would have been called an hour into the fight," he added. "If this were a boxing match, it would have been called by the referee," he said.
The University of Denver debate was the first in a series of three presidential forums and one vice-presidential encounter this month.The University of Denver debate was the first in a series of three presidential forums and one vice-presidential encounter this month.
Running-mates Joe Biden and Paul Ryan will meet in Danville, Kentucky on 11 October, before the second presidential debate on 16 October.Running-mates Joe Biden and Paul Ryan will meet in Danville, Kentucky on 11 October, before the second presidential debate on 16 October.