An energetic Mitt Romney launched a series of attacks against President Obama here Wednesday night, calling into question the president’s record on the economy, health care and the deficit, and arguing that he would take the country in a fundamentally different direction. 
 
 Obama sought to parry Romney’s criticisms, charging that his presidential rival favors a top-down approach to the economy that would reward the wealthiest Americans at the expense of the middle class and that the details of the Republican’s proposals don’t add up. But he found himself on the defensive repeatedly during their first debate, held at the University of Denver. 
 
 Romney came into the 90-minute exchange after several difficult weeks but appeared rejuvenated by the opportunity to take his case directly to Obama and the American people. He was well prepared and aggressive as he hammered the president. The contrast with Obama was striking, as the president appeared less energetic even as he rebutted some of Romney’s toughest attacks. 
 
 The debate is likely to give Romney what he needed most, which is a fresh look from voters — at least those who are undecided or open to changing their minds — and will change the conversation about the campaign, which for the past two weeks has been tilted in the president’s favor. Romney now faces the challenge of trying to build on his performance and keep the president on the defensive in the days ahead. 
 
 Romney offered conservative policies throughout the evening but he often sounded more moderate than he does in campaign appearances. He is likely to face a challenge from Obama and the Democrats in the coming days about the contrast in tone and posture on display during the night. 
 
 1 of 23 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × Presidential candidates face off in Denver View Photos President Obama and Mitt Romney met for the first of three debates Wednesday night. Caption Domestic policy was the focus of the debate in Denver. Oct. 3, 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney shares a laugh with President Obama after finishing up the first presidential debate at the University of Denver. Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue. 
 
 But Republicans were immediately cheered by the aggressiveness they saw in Romney and took it as a sign that he will wage a fierce battle between now and Nov. 6. 
 
 PBS’s Jim Lehrer moderated the forum, which included a more open format that encouraged a free-flowing discussion, and most of the exchanges focused on the economy, the federal budget deficit and health care. The debate was generally civil and proved to be one of the most substantive and detailed in recent memory. 
 
 The weak economy has long been Obama’s biggest obstacle to reelection. On Wednesday, he argued that, although the country faces problems, it has begun to “fight our way back” because of his policies and the resilience of the American people. 
 
 “Over the last 30 months, we’ve seen 5 million jobs in the private sector created. The auto industry has come roaring back. And housing has begun to rise. But we all know that we’ve still got a lot of work to do. And so the question here tonight is not where we’ve been but where we’re going.” 
 
 But Romney said the status quo “is not going to cut it” for struggling families. “Under the president’s policies, middle-income Americans have been buried. They’re just being crushed. Middle-income Americans have seen their income come down by $4,300. This is a tax in and of itself. I’ll call it the economy tax. It’s been crushing.” 
 
 Romney clearly came to the debate determined to change his image as someone who cares little for ordinary Americans, a view that was heightened by his dismissive comments about the roughly 47 percent of Americans who pay no income taxes. 
 
 Throughout much of the early part of the debate, he sought to portray himself as a protector of the middle class, not the wealthy. He said that he would not raise taxes on middle-class families and that he would not reduce the share of taxes paid by the wealthiest Americans. 
 
 Obama, however, said that Romney’s tax plan would do just that. He said his rival favors a $5 trillion tax cut and argued that eliminating loopholes and deductions for the wealthiest Americans would not provide enough revenue to avoid deepening the deficit. He said Romney would either have to cut into middle-class benefits or reduce spending on vital programs. 
 
 “The magnitude of the tax cuts that you’re talking about, Governor, would end up resulting in severe hardship for people but, more importantly, would not help us grow,” the president said. 
 
 Romney repeatedly has declined to specify what loopholes and deductions he would eliminate and passed up opportunities to do so again Wednesday. But he said Obama had mischaracterized his tax plan, saying that it does not include a $5 trillion cut. 
 
 “Let me repeat what I said,” Romney said. “I’m not in favor of a $5 trillion tax cut. That’s not my plan. My plan is not to put in place any tax cut that will add to the deficit.” 
 
 Obama and Romney clashed over Medicare, with both promising to protect the health-care program for seniors. Obama accused Romney of wanting to turn it into a voucher program, while Romney claimed that the president cut $716 million from Medicare to help pay for the Affordable Care Act. 
 
 Romney was eager to launch into a critique of the landmark legislation that he cited as his top example of programs that must be eliminated to close the federal deficit. “I apologize, Mr. President,” Romney added after referring to the program as Obamacare. “I use that term with respect.” 
 
 “I like it,” Obama quickly responded, but that was about their only real point of agreement. 
 
 Romney argued that the program would raise health-care costs and make it less likely that businesses would hire new workers. He accused Obama of establishing an unelected board to make health-care decisions for patients, and of cutting more than $700 billion from Medicare to help pay for the law. And he chastised the incumbent for “pushing through” legislation of such magnitude without a single Republican vote. 
 
 “I just don’t know how the president could have come into office — facing 23 million people out of work, rising unemployment, an economic crisis at the kitchen table — and spend his energy and passion for two years fighting for Obamacare instead of fighting for jobs for the American people,” Romney said. “It has killed jobs.” 
 
 Obama pushed back, particularly on the point about the cut to Medicare, which he explained, and independent analysis has shown, does not include direct reductions to benefits for seniors but rather ratchets down payments to providers, including insurance companies. 
 
 The president noted that Romney has promised to repeal Obamacare on his first day in office, yet more recently has said he wants to keep some of its provisions, notably its protections for patients with preexisting conditions and the rights of young adults to remain on their parents’ insurance plans. 
 
 Obama also reminded viewers that his law was modeled heavily on the health-care law that Romney championed when he was governor of Massachusetts. “We’ve seen this model work really well in Massachusetts,” the president said. 
 
 “He now says he’s going to replace Obamacare and ensure that all the good things that are in it are going to be in there and you don’t have to worry,” Obama added. “And at some point, I think the American people have to ask themselves: Is the reason that Governor Romney is keeping all these plans to replace secret because they’re too good?” 
 
 Romney defended his plan in Massachusetts, saying he had not raised taxes and had pushed through the bill with significant numbers of Democratic votes. 
 
 On energy, Obama said Romney would continue to favor tax breaks for the oil industry. Romney retorted by noting that the Obama administration has invested more than $90 billion in green-energy projects, “about about 50 years’ worth of what oil and gas receives.” 
 
 On regulatory issues, Romney attacked the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which overhauled regulation of the financial industry, but he said that some regulations are needed and that he would keep them. Obama scoffed at Romney’s promise to repeal Wall Street regulation that he signed into law, saying: “Does anybody out there think that the big problem we had is that there was too much oversight and regulation of Wall Street? Because if you do, then Governor Romney is your candidate.” 
 
 Near the end of the debate, Lehrer asked the candidates how they might make Washington work more effectively. Romney said he would do what he had done with a Democratic legislature in Massachusetts: work out compromises. 
 
 Obama said that might be difficult if one of Romney’s first efforts were to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which he said would anger Democrats in Congress. And he accused Romney of being hostage to the most conservative elements of the Republican Party. 
 
 “I’ve got to tell you, Governor Romney, when it comes to his own party during the course of this campaign, has not displayed that willingness to say no to some of the more extreme parts of his party,” he said. 
 
 David Nakamura and Philip Rucker contributed to this report. ||||| Jim Lehrer kicked off the debate with a question on jobs: 
 
 "What are the major differences between the two of you about how you would go about creating new jobs?" he asked, giving each two minutes. 
 
 President Obama began with a personal note - acknowledging today is his twentieth wedding anniversary. 
 
 "Twenty years ago I became the luckiest man on earth because Michelle Obama agreed to marry me…a year from now we will not be celebrating it in front of 40 million people," he said. 
 
 He then went on to describe the jobs picture as he sees it - greatest fiscal calamity since the Great Depression four years ago, "millions of jobs were lost the auto industry was on the brink of collapse…(with the) resilience and determination of the American people we’ve begun to find our way back...we all know that we’ve still got a lot of work to do. The question tonight is not where we’ve been but where we’re going." 
 
 The right way is not to "cut taxes skewed toward the wealthy ...I’ve got a different view," Obama said, faulting Mitt Romney for a "trickle-down" approach. 
 
 Romney replied by acknowledging the wedding anniversary, saying, "I’m sure this is the most romantic place you could imagine here with me so congratulations." 
 
 On jobs he said, "This obviously is a very tender topic," then recalled two personal stories from people approaching him for help on the trail asking "can you help us….and the answer is yes we can help but it’s going to (require) a different path…(trickle down is) not what I’m going to do....now I'm concerned .... the president has a view that's very similar to the view he had when he ran four years ago....if you will, trickle down government would work...I'll restore the vitality that gets America working again." ||||| Live Fact-Checking 
 
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 Login to submit your question ||||| In a showdown at close quarters, President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney sparred aggressively in their first campaign debate Wednesday night over taxes, deficits and strong steps needed to create jobs in a sputtering national economy. "The status quo is not going to cut it," declared the challenger. 
 
 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and with wife Ann wave toward the audience after the first presidential debate at the University of Denver, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Charlie... (Associated Press) 
 
 President Barack Obama hugs his wife Michelle following the first presidential debate at the University of Denver, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (Associated Press) 
 
 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama wave to the audience during the first presidential debate at the University of Denver, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Charlie... (Associated Press) 
 
 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama shake hands during the first presidential debate at the University of Denver, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Charlie... (Associated Press) 
 
 President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney participate in the first presidential debate at the University of Denver, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Michael Reynolds,... (Associated Press) 
 
 President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney participate in the first presidential debate at the University of Denver, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Pool-Michael... (Associated Press) 
 
 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama shake hands before the first presidential debate at the University of Denver, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Charlie... (Associated Press) 
 
 President Barack Obama shakes hands with Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney during the first presidential debate at the University of Denver, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Pool-Michael... (Associated Press) 
 
 Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, right, and President Barack Obama, left, walk on stage at the end of their first debate at the University of Denver, Wednesday,... (Associated Press) 
 
 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama talks after the first presidential debate at the University of Denver, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) (Associated Press) 
 
 President Barack Obama answers a question during the first presidential debate at the University of Denver, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Pool-Michael Reynolds) (Associated Press) 
 
 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney speaks during the first presidential debate with President Barack Obama at the University of Denver, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (Associated Press) 
 
 John Rossitto watches the first presidential debate between President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney from a restaurant in San Diego, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Gregory... (Associated Press) 
 
 President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney participate in the first presidential debate at the University of Denver, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Pool, Rick... (Associated Press) 
 
 Obama in turn accused his rival of seeking to "double down" on economic policies that actually led to the devastating national downturn four years ago _ and of evasiveness when it came to prescriptions for tax changes, health care, Wall Street regulation and more. 
 
 The economy dominated the evening, as it has the race for the White House all year. Pre-debate opinion polls showed Obama with a slight advantage in key battleground states and nationally. 
 
 With early voting already under way in dozens of states, Romney was particularly aggressive in the 90-minute event that drew a television audience likely to be counted in the tens of millions _ like a man looking to shake up the campaign with a little less than five weeks to run. 
 
 The former Massachusetts governor virtually lectured Obama at one point after the president accused him of seeking to cut education funds. "Mr. President, you're entitled to your own airplane and your own house, but not your own facts," he said. 
 
 Romney said he had plans to fix the economy, overhaul the tax code, repeal Obama's health care plan and replace with a better alternative, remake Medicare, pass a substitute for the legislation designed to prevent another financial crash and reduce deficits _ but he provided no new specifics despite Obama's prodding. 
 
 Said Obama: "At some point the American people have to ask themselves: Is the reason Governor Romney is keeping all these plans secret, is it because they're going to be too good? Because middle class families benefit too much? No." 
 
 The two men debate twice more this month, but they were first going their separate ways on Thursday. Obama had campaign stops in Colorado and then Madison, Wis., while Romney was booked into Virginia. All three states are among the nine battlegrounds likely to settle the race. 
 
 At times the debate turned into rapid-fire charges and retorts that drew on dense facts and figures that were difficult to follow. The men argued over oil industry subsidies, federal spending as a percentage of the GDP, Medicare cuts, taxes and small businesses and the size of the federal deficit and how it grew. 
 
 Obama sometimes seemed somewhat professorial. Romney was more assertive and didn't hesitate to interrupt the president or moderator Jim Lehrer. 
 
 Despite the wonky tone of the debate, Romney managed to make some points by personalizing his comments with recollections of people he said he had met on the campaign trail. In another folksy reference, Romney told Lehrer, a veteran of the Public Broadcasting Service, that he would stop the federal subsidy to PBS even though "I love Big Bird." 
 
 Generally polite but pointed, the two men agreed about little if anything. 
 
 Obama said his opponent's plan to reduce all tax rates by 20 percent would cost $5 trillion and benefit the wealthy at the expense of middle income taxpayers. 
 
 Shot back Romney: "Virtually everything he just said about my tax plan is inaccurate." 
 
 The former Massachusetts governor and businessman added that Obama's proposal to allow the expiration of tax cuts on upper-level income would mean tax increases on small businesses that create jobs by the hundreds of thousands. 
 
 The two campaign rivals clasped hands and smiled as they strode onto the debate stage at the University of Denver, then waved to the audience before taking their places behind identical lecterns. 
 
 There was a quick moment of laughter, when Obama referred to first lady Michelle Obama as "sweetie" and noted it was their 20th anniversary. 
 
 Romney added best wishes, and said to the first couple, "I'm sure this is the most romantic place you could imagine, here with me." 
 
 Both candidates' wives were in the audience. 
 
 Without saying so, the two rivals quickly got to the crux of their race _ Romney's eagerness to turn the contest into a referendum on the past four years while the incumbent desires for voters to choose between his plan for the next four years and the one his rival backs. 
 
 Romney ticked off the dreary economic facts of life _ a sharp spike in food stamps, economic growth "lower this year than last" and "23 million people out of work or stropped looking for work." 
 
 But Obama criticized Romney's prescriptions and his refusal to raise taxes and said, "if you take such an unbalanced approach then that means you are going to be gutting our investment in schools and education ... health care for seniors in nursing homes (and) for kids with disabilities." 
 
 Not surprisingly, the two men disagreed over Medicare, a flash point since Romney placed Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan on his ticket. 
 
 The president repeatedly described Romney's plan as a "voucher program" that would raise out-of-pocket costs on seniors. 
 
 He continued, directly addressing the voters at home: "If you're 54 or 55 you might want to listen because this will affect you." 
 
 Romney said he doesn't support any changes for current retirees or those close to retirement. 
 
 "If you're 60 or 60 and older you don't need to listen further," he said, but he contended that fundamental changes are needed to prevent the system from becoming insolvent as millions of baby boom generation Americans become eligible. 
 
 Romney also made a detailed case for repealing Obamacare, the name attached to the health care plan that Obama pushed through Congress in 2010. "It has killed jobs," he said, and argued that the best approach is to "do what we did in my state." 
 
 Though he didn't say so, when he was governor Massachusetts passed legislation that required residents to purchase coverage _ the so-called individual mandate that conservatives and he oppose on a national level. 
 
 Romney also said that Obamacare would cut $716 billion from Medicare over the next decade. 
 
 The president said the changes were part of a plan to lengthen the program's life, and he added that AARP, the seniors lobby, supports it. 
 
 With a two-minute closing statement, Obama said he had spent his first four years in office fighting for those in the emiddle class and those seeking to make it there. "If you'll vote for me, I'll fight just as hard in my second term," he said. 
 
 Romney was as critical of Obama's tenure as he was the moment the two men walked onto the stage. 
 
 If the president is re-elected, he predicted continued economic trouble for the middle class, chronic unemployment, higher costs for health insurance and "dramatic cuts to the military." 
 
 Obama took office in the shadow of an economic crisis but promised a turnaround that hasn't materialized. Economic growth has been sluggish throughout his term, with unemployment above 8 percent since before he took office. 
 
 The customary security blended with a festival-like atmosphere in the surrounding area on a warm and sunny day. The Lumineers performed for free, and Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am delivered a pep talk of sorts to Obama's supporters. School officials arranged to show the debate on monitors outside the hall for those without tickets. 
 
 There was local political theater, too, including female Romney supporters wearing short shorts and holding signs that said, "What War On Women?" _ a rebuttal to claims by Obama and the Democrats. 
 
 The two presidential rivals also are scheduled to debate on Oct. 16 in Hempstead, N.Y., and Oct. 22 in Boca Raton, Fla. 
 
 Vice President Joe Biden and Republican Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin have one debate, Oct. 11 in Danville, Ky. Both men have already begun holding practice sessions. 
 
 ___ 
 
 Associated Press writer Kristen Wyatt contributed to this story. David Espo reported from Washington.
– The first of the presidential debates has wrapped up, with President Obama asking voters to stay the course and Mitt Romney arguing that change is necessary because the "middle class is being crushed." The early consensus seems to be that the president was a little off his game, or at least playing it too safe, while Romney was sharper. The AP calls him "particularly aggressive." Some highlights: Obama opened by wishing Michelle a happy 20th anniversary, notes Politico. When he got to his first real remarks, he pivoted to a familiar theme: "The question tonight is not where we've been, but where we're going." Romney congratulated Obama on his anniversary, and added a joke. "I'm sure this was the most romantic place you could imagine, here with me." He then laid out his familiar broad themes, including energy independence and a balanced budget. Obama: “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.” Romney: "Virtually everything [Obama] has just said about my tax plan is inaccurate," he said, adding, “I don't have a $5 trillion tax cut. ... We ought to apply tax relief to people in the middle class, but I’m not going to reduce the share of taxes paid by high-income people. I’m not looking to cut massive taxes." Health care: Romney said he likes his Massachusetts plan because it was done in bipartisan fashion, unlike Obama's. Well, responded the president, then congressional Republicans should have taken lessons from Massachusetts Democrats on cooperation. Education: After Obama accused Romney of seeking to cut funds, the challenger responded, "Mr. President, you're entitled to your own airplane and your own house, but not your own facts." But Obama played some offense, criticizing Romney for being vague on details for his various reform plans. "At some point the American people have to ask themselves: Is the reason Governor Romney is keeping all these plans secret, is it because they're going to be too good? Because middle class families benefit too much? No." Big Bird: Romney told moderator Jim Lehrer that he would cut PBS funds, notes USA Today. "I'm sorry Jim. I'm gonna stop the subsidy to PBS. I'm gonna stop other things. I like PBS, I like Big Bird, I actually like you too." Odds and ends, and early reaction: Obama "appears slow and passive, as if he is addressing reporters in the Rose Garden, and letting repeated opportunities to challenge Mr. Romney pass," writes Adam Nagourney at the New York Times. Romney "took the offensive" writes Jerry Markon at the Washington Post and appeared "more vigorous than he often is on the campaign trail." Liz Heron at the Wall Street Journal notes that "Poor Jim" was trending during the debate, with the Twitter consensus that Lehrer couldn't control these two.