Election 2012: Obama and Romney spar on economy during first debate

U.S President Barack Obama (l) and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. PHOTO/File

US President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney have sparred over economic issues in their first presidential debate.

Wednesday’s debate in Denver, Colorado, was the first of 3 scheduled for the month before Election Day.

Obama said he promised to cut taxes for middle-income people and did. He said if reelected, he will work just as hard to help the middle class through measures such as raising taxes on the wealthy.

Romney said Obama promised to reduce the federal deficit by half but ended up doubling it. He said Obama’s economic platform is identical to that of the last election and wrong for the United States.

Obama was often on the defense and paused while speaking.

Romney promised not to raise taxes on middle-income people under any circumstances, apparently to dispel his image as a candidate for the wealthy.

Romney has been trailing Obama in recent polls. It remains to be seen whether he can capitalize on his debate performance.