| 27 September 2008 |
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| John McCain, left, and Barack Obama shake hands after first presidential debate (26 Sep 08) |
The senators differed significantly on the war in Iraq. McCain said there are severe consequences of defeat, including greater Iranian influence, increased sectarian violence and a greater and wider war that might force the U.S. military to come back.
Obama said the U.S. military should not have been in Iraq in the first place because the bigger threat was in Afghanistan. He said the war was a strategic mistake.
The two senators agreed on the severity of the threat Iran would pose to Israel if Tehran acquired a nuclear weapon.
McCain argued for greater sanctions against Tehran and said the U.S. cannot allow a "second Holocaust." Obama called for tough direct diplomacy.
The two candidates focused on the struggling U.S. economy for the first part of the debate.
McCain described Obama as too liberal to reach out to Republicans, and said spending in Washington must be brought under control. Obama tried to link McCain to his fellow Republican, President George Bush, saying McCain supported "the wrongheaded" policies of Mr. Bush.
The two argued over the impact of so-called "earmarks," or spending for projects members of Congress slip into larger appropriations measures.
McCain said this type of spending has to be brought under control, and he promised to veto all earmarks if he becomes president.
Obama downplayed the importance of such earmarks, and instead accused McCain of proposing $300 billion in tax cuts for the wealthiest corporations.
The debate, held at the University of Mississippi, in the town of Oxford, was expected to draw tens of millions of viewers.
Two more presidential debates are scheduled, October 7 and October 15. The vice presidential nominees, Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Joe Biden, will face-off October 2.
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