DENVER — In a showdown at close quarters, President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney sparred aggressively in their first campaign debate Wednesday night over taxes, deficits and strong steps needed to create jobs in a sputtering national economy. "The status quo is not going to cut it," declared the challenger.
Obama in turn accused his rival of seeking to "double down" on economic policies that actually led to the devastating national downturn four years ago.
Both men made frequent references to the weak economy and high national unemployment, by far the dominant issue in the race for the White House. Public opinion polls show Obama with a slight advantage in key battleground states and nationally, and Romney was particularly aggressive, like a man looking to shake up the campaign with a little less than five weeks to run.
Polite but pointed, the two men agreed about little if anything.
Obama said his opponent's plan to reduce all tax rates by 20 percent would cost $5 trillion and benefit the wealthy at the expense of middle income taxpayers.
Shot back Romney: "Virtually everything he just said about my tax plan is inaccurate."
The former Massachusetts governor and businessman added that Obama's proposal to allow the expiration of tax cuts on upper-level income would mean tax increases on small businesses that create jobs by the hundreds of thousands.
The two campaign rivals clasped hands and smiled as they strode onto the debate stage at the University of Denver, then waved to the audience before taking their places behind identical lecterns.
There was a quick moment of laughter, when Obama referred to first lady Michelle Obama as "sweetie" and noted it was their 20th anniversary.
Romney added best wishes, and said to the first couple, "I'm sure this is the most romantic place you could imagine, here with me."
Both candidates' wives were in the audience.
The two men debated before a television audience likely to be counted in the tens of millions. They will meet twice more this month, and their running mates once, but in past election years, viewership has sometimes fallen off after the first encounter.
Without saying so, the two rivals quickly got to the crux of their race — Romney's eagerness to turn the contest into a referendum on the past four years while the incumbent desires for voters to choose between his plan for the next four years and the one his rival backs.
Romney ticked off the dreary economic facts of life — a sharp spike in food stamps, economic growth "lower this year than last" and "23 million people out of work or stropped looking for work."
But Obama criticized Romney's prescriptions and his refusal to raise taxes and said, "if you take such an unbalanced approach then that means you are going to be gutting our investment in schools and education ... health care for seniors in nursing homes (and) for kids with disabilities."
Not surprisingly, the two men disagreed over Medicare, a flash point since Romney placed Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan on his ticket.
The president repeatedly described Romney's plan as a "voucher program" that would raise out-of-pocket costs on seniors.
He continued, directly addressing the voters at home: "If you're 54 or 55 you might want to listen because this will affect you."
Romney said he doesn't support any changes for current retirees or those close to retirement.
"If you're 60 or 60 and older you don't need to listen further," he said, but he contended that fundamental changes are needed to prevent the system from becoming insolvent as millions of baby boom generation Americans become eligible.
Romney also made a detailed case for repealing Obamacare, the name attached to the health care plan that Obama pushed through Congress in 2010. "It has killed jobs," he said, and argued that the best approach is to "do what we did in my state."
Though he didn't say so, when he was governor Massachusetts passed legislation that required residents to purchase coverage — the so-called individual mandate that conservatives and he oppose on a national level.
Romney also said that Obamacare would cut $716 billion from Medicare over the next decade.
The president said the changes were part of a plan to lengthen the program's life, and he added that AARP, the seniors lobby, supports it.
Jim Lehrer of PBS drew moderator's duties, with Obama getting the first question and Romney the last word.
Five weeks before Election Day, early voting is under way in scattered states and beginning in more every day. Opinion polls show Obama with an advantage nationally and in most if not all of the battleground states where the race is most likely to be decided.
That put particular pressure on Romney to come up with a showing strong enough to alter the course of the campaign.
The sputtering economy served as the debate backdrop, as it has for virtually everything else in the 2012 campaign for the White House. Obama took office in the shadow of an economic crisis but promised a turnaround that hasn't materialized. Economic growth has been sluggish throughout his term, with unemployment above 8 percent since before he took office.
The customary security blended with a festival-like atmosphere in the surrounding area on a warm and sunny day. The Lumineers performed for free, and Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am delivered a pep talk of sorts to Obama's supporters. School officials arranged to show the debate on monitors outside the hall for those without tickets.
There was local political theater, too, including female Romney supporters wearing short shorts and holding signs that said, "What War On Women?" — a rebuttal to claims by Obama and the Democrats.
Both campaigns engaged in a vigorous pre-debate competition to set expectations, each side suggesting the other had built-in advantages.
Romney took part in 19 debates during the campaign for the Republican primary early in the year. The president has not been onstage with a political opponent since his last face-to-face encounter with Arizona Sen. John McCain, his Republican rival in 2008.
Obama and Romney prepared for the evening with lengthy practice sessions. Romney selected Ohio Sen. Rob Portman as a stand-in for the president; Obama turned to Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry to play the Republican role.
The two presidential rivals also are scheduled to debate on Oct. 16 in Hempstead, N.Y., and Oct. 22 in Boca Raton, Fla.
Vice President Joe Biden and Republican Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin have one debate, Oct. 11 in Danville, Ky. Both men have already begun holding practice sessions.
Slabside posted at 11:46 pm on Wed, Oct 3, 2012.
The real Obama was shown for what he is... AN EMPTY SUIT. Even Bill Mahr tweeted that Obummer needed a teleprompter and he made Romney look more appealing. It's all over for the charlatan in the WH!!! [beam][beam][beam][beam]
loose stool posted at 3:08 am on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
Romney made obama look really bad, he dominated and kick some but.
Cerulean posted at 7:14 am on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
“Romney claimed a new board established by the Affordable Care Act is “going to tell people ultimately what kind of treatments they can have.” Not true. The board only recommends cost-saving measures for Medicare, and is legally forbidden to ration care or reduce benefits. “ FactCheck.org
This board is one of the best ideas Affordable Health has for lowering the cost of healthcare. Shame on candidate Romney.
Arizona Willie posted at 7:17 am on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
I felt like Obama didn't want the job anymore.
It was like he had lost all interest and would be quite happy to walk away and let the Republicans have it so they could stew in their own mess.
He was physically present but that is all.
Cerulean posted at 7:34 am on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
I tend to agree with you Arizona Willie. I believe that in the up coming debates that perception will change, I hope it does.
“Romney again promised to “not reduce the taxes paid by high-income Americans” and also to “lower taxes on middle-income families,” but didn’t say how he could possibly accomplish that without also increasing the deficit.” FactCheck.org
Candidate Romney plays around with the idea that HE (note that congress has no role) will cut incentives to large corporations (taxes). And, he will end funding to PBS (big bird), low cost government loans for education, etc. If Romney is going to INCREASE SPENDING for the military (why?), how is Big Bird going to pay for that?
delluser posted at 8:14 am on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
Chris Matthews Freaks Out At Obama: "What Was He Doing?"
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/10/03/chris_matthews_freaks_out_at_obama_after_debate_romney_was_winning.html
Accuracy posted at 8:32 am on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
The consensus is, President Obama’s challenger for the White House, Mitt Romney solidly won the debate Wednesday night at the University of Denver.
The debate focused on domestic policy as the candidates answered questions and drew stark differences in their visions for health care, entitlements, taxes, deficits and job creation. President Obama was on the defensive, and Romney was very assertive in challenging his past and present policies.
They met face to face . . . but Obama hardly looked at Romney. Instead, Obama kept looking down the whole time and showed how he was helpless and lacking without the Teleprompter.
This victory for Romney will have a big impact on the presidential race.
Cerulean posted at 11:02 am on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
Romney did not “win” the debates, he talked louder, he was more aggressive, but he did not win. Unless, of course, you are talking about who was the most obnoxious.
The consensus is that President Obama could have done better.
I think he was testing the water, so to speak.
gilbertgrandma posted at 12:11 pm on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
Cerulean, you can keep denying it, but Romney knocked it out of the park last night! Obama didn't even show up and was absolutely nothing without his teleprompter. I'm sure he'll improve in the next debate, but honestly, he has nothing to run on and that showed last night. The Ryan-Biden debate should be even more interesting.
Cerulean posted at 12:43 pm on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
"knocked it out of the park" with a bat of lies.
Another tall tale Candidate Romney said that the Obama administration put $90 billion into green jobs and that half of the companies have “gone out of business”.
I think Romney was referring to his own business experience, not the green jobs initiative. The majority of the green energy projects are up and running. In fact the city of Mesa is using some of the money to extend the light rail a few miles.
Romney’s campaign later came clean and said that Romney made a mistake, that he was solely referring to the Energy Department’s 1705 loan program, which provides about $16.1 billion to clean-energy companies. Even with the correction his statement is still NOT TRUE. Only three of thirty three of these companies have declared bankruptcy.
Slabside posted at 1:06 pm on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
Sorry Cerulean, gilbertgrandma is 100% right and you are wrong. Obama's true self was on display in the debate. He has no leadership abilities at all and it showed. Romney outperformed him at every turn. Romney was not loud he was professional. He had answers whereas Obama just placed blame.
You are such an Obamabot complete with blinders. Many of us here can see it plain as day but you would follow Obama even if he came out on stage wearing a Nazi uniform. Please pull your head out of the sand.
DonMey posted at 1:27 pm on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
I listened to the debate rather than watched it; while I agree Romney did better, I wouldn't say Obama did a bad job like many are saying.
Cerulean posted at 2:59 pm on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
Romney’s numbers don’t add up! ! Romney is promising to cut taxes and increase defense spending while also balancing the budget. How does he get there?
Killing Big Bird is not going to make it happen.
Slabside posted at 3:24 pm on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
Romney suggested an option of limiting deductions to pay for his across-the-board income tax cut. Romney should have announced this sooner. Almost every itemized deduction in the income tax code stinks, This policy would significantly reduce the value of such deductions.
Romney's proposal helps to show why the complaint that 47 percent of households pay no federal income tax is a red herring. Romney's plan would greatly expand the income tax base without at all reducing the number of filers whose liability is $0. Mostly it would operate by raising the taxable income of people near the top of the income scale -- because that's where the money is.
Mitt gave a concrete response to the Obama campaign attack that he wants to raise taxes on the middle class. This policy would hold almost every taxpayer making less than $200,000 a year harmless from tax increases.If tax rates are cut by 20 percent across the board, as Romney also proposes, you would have to face a 25 percent increase in your taxable income to get hit with a tax increase.
Cerulean posted at 3:31 pm on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
Candidate Romney said, “Yes, there are two choices: what you got now, or what I'll give you. And promises are easier to sell than actualities—particularly when they are not bound by facts.”
Promises are easier to sell than actualities – particularly when they are not bound by facts.
Haddie Nuff posted at 3:46 pm on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
Suggest you go to Factcheck.org and/or Politifact.com. Romney, as usual, lied throughout the entire debate. I would like to have seen Obama call him out on it, but being confrontational and calling his opponent a liar, isn't really Obama's style.
Hopefully, he'll develop some pushback by the next debate. It really isn't a good thing for anyone to allow those kinds of untruths to go unchallenged.
As for a game changer, I don't think so. There are very few undecided people left out there.
Slabside posted at 3:47 pm on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
Really Cerulean? Let's look at Obama's broken campaign promises shall we?
No Super PACs
Closing Gitmo
Goodbye Bush Tax Cuts
Get Cap-And-Trade Passed
No New Taxes For Families Making Under $250,000
Create a foreclosure prevention fund for homeowners
Allow imported prescription drugs
Bring Democrats and Republicans together to pass an agenda
I know, I know... it's all Bush's fault.
Slabside posted at 4:02 pm on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
This just in: Al Gore says the Denver altitude (air) is what made Obama look weak. I've heard it all now! [beam][beam][beam][beam]
Slabside posted at 10:37 pm on Thu, Oct 4, 2012.
And the Obama_tards are strangely quiet.
CSalafia posted at 8:23 am on Fri, Oct 5, 2012.
If telling 28 verifiable falsehoods in 30 minutes, as Romney did, including at least 3 "pants on fire" rated lies is what some of you call "Winning"....
....you seriously need to raise your standards.
Slabside posted at 9:59 am on Fri, Oct 5, 2012.
Obama's #1 suck up says: "....you seriously need to raise your standards."
No, you voted for the worst president since Carter. It's your standards that need improvement.
CSalafia posted at 12:20 pm on Fri, Oct 5, 2012.
I'm sorry, I don't take anything birthers say seriously... and neither does anyone who is sane.
Slabside posted at 12:37 pm on Fri, Oct 5, 2012.
You voted Obama. You're far from sane.
DrJCA1 posted at 2:25 pm on Wed, Oct 17, 2012.
The sad fact is that no one will fix anything in this country. We have gone from a nation of hard-working, individualistic, ethical Americans to a group of hundreds of special interest factions that vote emotionally, not intelligently. Half of our country is on some sort of government handout program. How long before we actually go belly-up? No nation can keep a trillion-dollar a year deficit forever. There are too many Americans who walk around with their hand held out, waiting for their free stuff and money. Since politicians do whatever necessary to get re-elected, they will not rock the boat or tick off their constituants. Since the 300+ million of us can't agree on anything, nohting will ever get done. I don't care too much since I'm old and affluent enough to take care of myself and my family. I do feel bad for the future generations however.