Short summaries highlighting key points from the first presidential debate in Denver:
DENVER (AP) -- President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney are sparring in the first presidential debate over their differing approaches to growing the economy.
Obama says that Romney's tax agenda would not reduce the deficit. He says it would include a massive tax cut for the wealthy and more military spending.
The president is citing former President Bill Clinton, suggesting the nation should return to the Clinton-era tax rates he says would lead to economic growth.
Obama says simple "math" and "common sense" show Romney's approach is not a recipe for job growth.
Romney says virtually everything Obama says about his tax plan is inaccurate. Romney says his plan will cut taxes, reduce spending and grow the economy.
Romney says, quote, "I will lower taxes on middle income families."
DEBATE-ECONOMY
NEW: Obama and Romney open debate sparring on economy
DENVER (AP) -- President Barack Obama says the United States is making progress in repairing the struggling economy he inherited when he took office while his Republican rival, Mitt Romney, says the Democratic incumbent favors a "trickle-down government, if you will."
Obama and Romney opened their first of three presidential debates Wednesday with disagreements on how the government could help add jobs.
Obama pointed to progress made in saving Detroit's auto industry and rebuilding the housing market. Romney, meanwhile, says he would take a different path that gets government out of the way for American businesses.
Obama says Romney's plan would cut taxes for high-income workers. Romney says that is incorrect and that wealthy Americans will do just fine regardless whether he or Obama is in the White House.
DEBATE-TAXES
NEW: Romney and Obama spar over taxes
DENVER (AP) -- Republican Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama are tangling over taxes in their first presidential debate.
Romney says that Obama has mischaracterized his tax plan by calling it a $5 trillion tax cut. Obama responded that Romney appears to be backing away from his own plan.
Romney says "everything" Obama said about Romney's tax plan is inaccurate. Most importantly, Romney says his plan will not increase taxes for the middle class, as Obama contends.
Romney says his plan is to provide tax relief by lowering them for all Americans, while eliminating deductions and exemptions in the tax code.
Obama retorts that Romney appears to be saying "never mind" about his own tax plan. Obama says he will lower taxes for middle-class families.
DEBATE-GOVERNMENT
DENVER (AP) -- President Barack Obama says Republican rival Mitt Romney favors cutting a fifth of the Education Department's budget while Romney is countering that Obama directed $90 billion to so-called "green jobs" -- a sum, he says, that would hire 2 million teachers.
The two sparred Wednesday during their first presidential debate on what role government plays in Americans' lives.
Obama says there are challenges that only the federal government can solve. Romney says government should do only what is prescribed in the Constitution and challenges that only have federal solutions, such as national security.
Obama pointed to Romney's running mate, Paul Ryan, whose budget proposals make sharp cuts across the board. Romney retorted that Washington invested in new failed energy research.
DEBATE-WALL STREET
DENVER (AP) -- President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney are sparring over federal regulations that restrict Wall Street and financial institutions.
Romney is softening his usual anti-regulatory rhetoric, saying government rules are essential in a free economy. But he says the Dodd-Frank law that targeted the financial industry in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis was a mistake.
Romney says the law has "unintended consequences" because it allows banks to grow to the point that they are too big to fail. He says the law's mortgage requirements don't help homeowners.
Obama asks whether anyone thinks the financial crisis occurred because of too much oversight and Wall Street regulation. He says anyone who thinks that was the cause should vote for Romney.
ROMNEY-SPEECHES
Romney plans policy speeches as election nears
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Mitt Romney is planning to deliver a number of policy-focused speeches with new details during the presidential campaign's final five weeks.
The Republican nominee is trying to deepen his contrast with President Barack Obama and answer criticism that he hasn't clearly outlined his plans.
Obama has narrow leads in a number of state and national polls.
Romney plans a speech on foreign policy next week in Virginia. Aides say that subsequent speeches are expected to focus on his plans for job creation, debt and spending, although the subjects may change.
Already, Romney is beginning to release some new details on his tax proposal. But major questions remain on a number of key areas.
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