Live Blog: Obama and Romney Square Off in First Presidential Debate

The Democratic incumbent and his Republican challenger address each other directly during a 90 minute exchange in Denver.

There's just one thing that's certain about tonight's debate between President Barack Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney: when it's over, their respective campaigns will each claim victory.

After half a week of suddenly declaring their candidate the inferior orator (after doing the exact opposite during their conventions) in order to lower expectations for the verbal sparring match, the spinmasters will say that (insert candidate here) made a clear case for his right to spend the next four years in the White House, and clearly connected with the American people. This will be the first of three about faces this month, and the stakes of executing a perfect, Gabby Douglas-esque balance beam walk are high: Obama leads Romney among likely voters by one point in the latest NBC/WSJ poll, and four among those registered to cast a ballot.

What to watch for? Well-practiced answers -- including some zingers -- and maybe some specifics. Obama has alternated his charges regarding Romney's policy proposals: that they're too vague, that they're too conservative, and that they are conservative when he used to be more liberal as the governor of Massachusetts. Romney, on the other hand, will work to put Obama on the defensive, hitting on the slow economy recovery.

by Boston.com 10/4/2012 12:47:58 AM
by Ron Agrella, Editor 10/4/2012 2:32:42 AM

Nearly three minutes over, the debate ends with another handshake at center stage, before candidates move to see their families. President shaking hands with and greeting Romney family.

by Glen Johnson 10/4/2012 2:39:37 AM
Romney showed he is absolutely unprepared to lead the US. Lowering taxes at a time of historically low taxes? Why would anyone think Mr. Etch-a-Sketch was going to be a good president?

by Macrhino edited by Teresa Hanafin, Boston.com 10/4/2012 2:39:41 AM
Funny how Romney looked more like a President tonight ...Obama is a nice community organizer and that's about it ... the truth hurts sometimes.

by Jonniemac edited by Teresa Hanafin, Boston.com 10/4/2012 2:39:57 AM
Ha ha, love that Globe poll that Obama won this debate. It wasn't even close. Romney ran away with it. Obama could not even hold a thought. Please.

by Terry 10/4/2012 2:40:21 AM
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by Ron Agrella, Editor 10/4/2012 2:40:37 AM
When talking about bipartisan cooperation during his governorship, Romney neglected to mention that Massachusetts has a long history of Republican governors to Democratic legislators. He also had the benefit of a Legislature that was not committed to tearing him down.

by Pan cam edited by Teresa Hanafin, Boston.com 10/4/2012 2:41:09 AM
Romney was the clear winner here. He looked presidential, sounded presidential, and had a good grasp on his facts. Obama looked like he was unprepared.

by D. Barnes 10/4/2012 2:41:25 AM
Mr. Obama was taken off guard by the amicable way Mr. Romney maintained the attack momentum. I give the debate to Romney, but not by enough to turn the election.

by Alan Cring 10/4/2012 2:42:01 AM
Romney nailed it! Obama was bumbling and losing his way and didn't focus on the economy at all, it was about his grandmother and education....

by Bela 10/4/2012 2:42:17 AM
Raising Bain will heat up the next debate fast.

by OnTop 10/4/2012 2:42:25 AM
Terrible performance by Obama, aided and abetted by a wretched moderator. Romney clearly won this, and he had no right to do that. Obama never attacked Romney on his many asinine comments, on the 47%. Where was Barack Obama tonight? Horrible.

by naniof7 10/4/2012 2:42:37 AM
ANALYSIS: Mitt Romney accomplished much of he wanted in his debate. President Obama did not come out swinging as hard as some of his supporters may have wished.

Romney stood on a stage with President Obama, leveling charges against the president, and trying to push back at charges that his policies favored the rich. Obama did not make some of the attacks he likely had in his quiver. Surprisingly, Obama did not reprise some of his most effective television commercials, which include attacks on Romney’s statement that 47 percent of Americans view themselves as victims, as well as jabs about Romney’s tax returns and work at Bain Capital.

While the debate veered toward the wonky, and memorable lines may not have been uttered, Romney’s ability to stand podium-to-podium with the president marked what his campaign will try to portray as a turning point. The next presidential debates, and the vice presidential match-up, could provide yet another turn.

by Michael Kranish, Globe Staff 10/4/2012 2:42:38 AM
i think obama lost tonight....Obama was passive and Romney talked in circles but very convincingly

by kimk 10/4/2012 2:52:29 AM
Obama dithered, liked a smug academic. Romney was focused, strong and confident. Like a leader should

by Hanging Pants 10/4/2012 2:53:01 AM
Mitt Romney loves Big Bird? Here's a link to a 2007 Boston Globe article featuring the man inside the big yellow bird suit.

by Ron Agrella, Editor 10/4/2012 2:53:12 AM
Please raise Bain. Debating capitalism deserves a great defense.

by SeekTruth 10/4/2012 2:54:09 AM
Barack Obama, I am on of the 53% who does pay taxes. Proudly. But I do not support your union-forced "jobs" burdening the states. Your plan will burden me; my home will be used as an ATM for teacher unions. No thanks. I want more discretionary income, not less!

by NH6464 edited by Teresa Hanafin, Boston.com 10/4/2012 2:55:09 AM
ANALYSIS: Television networks are weighing in with some pro-Obama commentators critical of the president's performance. On CNN, James Carville, the famed Democratic consultant, said Obama "didn't bring his `A' game." On MSNBC, a roundtable that included a number of pro-Obama commentators, expressed exasperation that the candidate didn't seem to have watched the network. If he had, they suggested, Obama might have had more ammunition to go after Romney.

CBS News released an instant poll of 533 uncommitted voters. CBS said "46% say that Romney won, 22% say Obama won," and the rest were undecided. Obama's backers are, of course, arguing that their man scored points just as Romney did, but the grumbling among Democrats is nonetheless being heard.

by Michael Kranish, Globe Staff 10/4/2012 3:04:15 AM
Gov Romney is intelligent and articulate. He knows all the facts and he has a workable plan. He presented his ideas very well.

by FromMA 10/4/2012 3:27:05 AM
If that's all a person has done in tracking these two candidates is watch the debate tonight, Romney won. His positions tonight prove that he really does have an etch-a-sketch. I think the public will see his positions tonight in sharp contrast with the Romney we've seen in the last two years. The President had lots to attack in Romney's positions, and chose not to. I may regret that at the moment, but I know who I trust. And Mr. Romney is no Barack Obama when it comes to trust.

by cirdom edited by Teresa Hanafin, Boston.com 10/4/2012 3:27:21 AM
For all of you who grasp onto the 47% clip/comment...in context it's absolutely true. The Dems love to spin the truth

by Jonniemac 10/4/2012 3:28:09 AM
Smackdown! Romney was sharp, smooth, accomplished, and informed. Pres was exactly who he is - inexperienced. If you were to choose a company that was led by one or the other, which company would you go work for? No brainer.

by southma edited by Teresa Hanafin, Boston.com 10/4/2012 3:29:07 AM
I think President Obama did a good job of demonstrating leadership about the issues. I think he did a good job of saying you have to make hard and smart choices, while contrasting that Governor Romney is promising things that are mathematically impossible. Romney's interrupting really bothered me, it made me think - he's a guy who doesn't think the rules apply to him.

by 4barblues 10/4/2012 3:30:01 AM