Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. US Presidential Debate Begins by VOA News U.S. President Barack Obama and Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney have taken the stage at the University of Denver. It is their first debate of the 2012 election and is expected to focus on the economy. The debate is being moderated by Jim Lehrer of PBS. Stay with us right here for updates as the debate continues until 0230 UTC. Refresh the page to see the latest updates. IFRAME: [1]http://www.youtube.com/embed/Z4Nkw4nqigU 1230 UTC Pressure is on Romney tonight to reverse Obama's momentum [2]#debates @[3]voa_news -- Jim Malone (@JMaloneVOA) [4]October 3, 2012 1240 UTC Debates have had most election impact in 20 year intervals-1960, 1980 and 2000 [5]#debates @[6]voa_news -- Jim Malone (@JMaloneVOA) [7]October 4, 2012 1250 UTC Moderator Jim Lehrer welcomes audience to debate hall and explains rules: "Absolute silence." Lehrer says this event is important because it's about those millions and millions of people watching to make one of the most important decisions a citizen of this country makes. Lehrer says, as a precaution, he's going to ask Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Romney to enforce the rules of silence on their respective sides. 0100 UTC Lehrer says "let's have a terrific evening for all of you and for our country." After welcoming the audience and nationwide viewers, he says tonight's 90 minutes will be about domestic issues. Lehrer says the questions will include three on the economy and one each on health care, the role of government and governing. He says both candidates will also have two minute closing statements. 0104 UTC Romney and Obama greet each other and shake hands, wave to the audience. Frist question is about jobs and President Obama answers first. 0106 UTC Both candidates wise to avoid Al Gore legacy--no sighs or eye-rolling please! [8]#debates @[9]voa_news -- Jim Malone (@JMaloneVOA) [10]October 4, 2012 0107 UTC Obama acknowledges his wedding anniversary, saying he wants to wish Michelle a happy anniversary Obama says the U.S. economy has begun to fight its way back, but that we all know there is still a lot of work to do. He says the question is not where we've been but where we're going Obama says it's ultimately up to the voters which path we'll take. 0109 UTC Romney jokes that he's sure this is the most romantic place Obama can imagine being on his anniversary. Romney says it's going to take a different path than the one we've been on to create jobs. Romney says he's concerned the path the nation is on has been unsuccessful. He says he'll restore the vitality that gets America working again. 0112 UTC Lehrer asks Obama to respond to Romney's statement on the trickle-down approach. Obama says programs to boost education are showing results. Obama says he and Romney agree that the nation's corporate tax code is too high and says he wants to lower it. Obama says he and Romney agree that the nation has to boost its energy production. Obama calls for looking at the energy sources of the future and looking at those investments. 0115 UTC Lehrer prompts Romney to ask Obama a direct question. Romney challenges Obama's claim that his economic plan includes a $5 trillion tax cut. Romney says the people who are having a hard time under. Obama's policies are middle income Americans. Romney looks directly at Obama as he says middle income Americans are being "crushed." Romney said he agrees that education is key. Romney says he agrees the country needs to bring the tax rates down both for corporations and individual s. Romney says energy is critical, but increase in natural gas and oil is not due to president's policies but in spite of them. Romney says people in coal industry feel like they're being crushed by Obama's policies. 0118 UTC Obama says four years ago, he said he would cut taxes for middle class families. He says that's exactly what he did, because he believes the nation does best when the middle class is doing well. Obama says studies show the only way to enforce Romney's economic plan without adding to the deficit would be to put the burden on the middle class. He said he does not believe that is a recipe for economic growth. 0120 UTC Romney says he will not add to the deficit with his tax plan. Romney said he has five sons and is used to people saying something that's not always true and just repeating it until he believes it. Romney says he wants to bring tax rates down, so small businesses will be able to hire more people. 0122 UTC Obama says if you are lowering the rates as Romney suggests, there is no way to avoid raising the deficit or burdening the middle class. Obama says he lowered taxes for small businesses 18 times and wants to continue the tax cuts in place for small businesses and families. Obama says the country should go back to the tax rates it had when Bill Clinton was president. He says by doing that, the nation can reduce the deficit, encourage job growth and allow for investments in things like education. __________________________________________________________________ [11]http://www.voanews.com/content/us-presidential-debate-begins/151996 8.html References 1. http://www.youtube.com/embed/Z4Nkw4nqigU 2. https://twitter.com/search/%23debates 3. https://twitter.com/voa_news 4. https://twitter.com/JMaloneVOA/status/253636185925226496 5. https://twitter.com/search/%23debates 6. https://twitter.com/voa_news 7. https://twitter.com/JMaloneVOA/status/253653516973912065 8. https://twitter.com/search/%23debates 9. https://twitter.com/voa_news 10. https://twitter.com/JMaloneVOA/status/253659928907100161 11. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-presidential-debate-begins/1519968.html