Romney, Obama clash on economy in first debate

Republican challenger Mitt Romney came out firing on Thursday in his first presidential debate, attacking Barack Obama for economic policies he said had “crushed” the American middle class.

“I’m concerned that the path we’re on has just been unsuccessful,” said Romney, fighting for his political life as he seeks to turn around a flagging campaign that has him trailing in key states just weeks before election day.

“The president has a view very similar to the view he had when he ran four years ago, that a bigger government, spending more, taxing more, regulating more – if you will trickle-down government – would work,” Romney said.

“That’s not the right answer for America. I’ll restore the vitality that gets America working again,” he vowed. “Middle-income families are being crushed, and the question is, how to get them going again.”

Obama hit back by suggesting that Romney will bring in US$5.4 trillion in tax cuts, particularly geared towards the wealthy, and said Romney hadn’t been clear about what loopholes in the tax system he would close.

“Governor Romney has a perspective that says if we cut taxes skewed toward the wealthy and cut back regulations, we’ll be better off. I have a different view,” Obama said, calling for “economic patriotism.”