The two candidates in this year's US presidential election have taken part in the first of three televised debates.
The theme of last night's debate in Oxford, Mississippi, was foreign policy and both candidates clashed over policy differences on Iraq and Iran.
However, in a week which saw the current incumbent of the White House warn of the possibility of a deep recession in the US, it was inevitable the economy would form a major part of the debate.
Both candidates explained at length their economic policies, with Republican John McCain at one stage citing Ireland's low corporation tax rate to defend his intention to cut US corporate tax.
Barack Obama defended his tax cuts for lower and middle income earners.
Both candidates effectively dodged a question on what policies they might be forced to shelve as a result of the worsening economic crisis in the US.
Differences on the War in Iraq produced the sharpest exchanges of the night.
John McCain said Sen Obama had refused to recognise that the surge had worked.
Barack Obama said McCain 'liked to pretend the war started in 2007.'
Throughout the debate, Senator McCain attempted to portray his rival as inexperienced while Senator Obama repeatedly tied Senator McCain to the policies of George W Bush.
