US presidential election

Millions watch first Obama-McCain TV debate

Article published on the 2008-09-27 Latest update 2008-09-27 13:57 TU

McCain (L) and Obama after the debate
(Photo: Reuters)

An audience of at least 60 million people is estimated to have watched the first televised debate between Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his Democrat rival Barack Obama. The economic crisis that has hit the country and the war in Iraq were among their principal concerns.

Most leading US newspapers stopped short of declaring either candidate the winner in a debate which saw no remarkable gaffes or outstanding points scored.

McCain had proposed that the debate be cancelled, claiming that he was setting politics aside to work on the financial crisis. But ten hours beforehand he agreed to take part after Obama's camp dismissed the call as a gimmick. 

The debate was initially supposed to be on foreign policy, says Washington correspondent Dick Rossé, but it was completely dominated by the financial crisis.

"Interestingly, pollsters who were following the debate on television said that there was a dramatic falloff in viewership when the subject strayed from the economy," he told RFI.

Here are some of the candidates' principal statements:

Experience:  The 72-year-old Arizona Senator stressed his experience, declaring, "I don't think I need any on-the-job training. I'm ready to go at it right now."

Economy: Obama, 47, described the financial crisis as "the final verdict on eight years of failed economic policies promoted by George Bush, supported by Senator McCain". 

McCain slammed state spending and claimed that Obama had "the most liberal voting record in the Senate" adding, "It's hard to reach across the aisle from that far left."

Iraq: McCain accused Obama of ignoring a victory that is on its way.

"We are winning in Iraq and we'll come home," he said. "And we'll come home as we have when we have won other wars and not in defeat."

Obama stressed his opposition to the war when it began and criticised McCain's record on the question.

"When the war started you said it was quick and easy, you said we knew where the weapons of mass destruction were," he told his opponent. You were wrong."

"You said that we were going to be greeted as liberators," he continued. "You were wrong. You said that there was no history of violence between Shia and Sunni and you were wrong."

Iran and Pakistan: McCain slammed Obama's declaration that he is ready to talk to the Iranian leadership, asking how he could sit down with President Mahmoud Amedinejad after he described Israel as "a stinking corpse".

Obama replied that he would speak to whomever he chooses when elected.

Obama repeated a pledge to allow military attacks on Islamist fighters in Pakistan if Islambad does not defeat them.

McCain responded: "You don't say that out loud."