McCain, Obama face-off in their first presidential debate NOW for 90-minutes at Ole Miss’ Gertrude C. Ford Center in Oxford.
Both candidates speak optimistically about the prospect of a deal being reached and being able to support it — McCain says so explicitly.
Obama links McCain with Bush on the economy and hits him for his recent comment about the fundamental strength of the American economy.
Other topics: spending, Iraq, budget priorities, Afghanistan.
Some routine jibes, but nothing nuclear.
After the debate, TIME’S Mark Halperin will deliver his report cards here.
