The first televised debate of the upcoming US elections took place in Denver, Colorado last night, as the two candidates hoping to take the White House locked horns over a range of issues from the country's struggling economy, taxes, and healthcare.

Commentators said it was first blood to Mitt Romney after the Republican candidate appeared more composed and aggressive in the debate, whilst Barack Obama was hesitant and appeared reluctant to engage with his opponent.

The fact-laden debate between the two boiled down to a clash over ideology, as the two contrasted their opposing views over taxation, bank regulation and the size of government.

"Now, I'm concerned that the path that we are on has just been unsuccessful. The president has a view very similar to the view he had when he ran four years go, that a bigger government, spending more, taxing more, regulating more, if you will, trickle-down government would work. That's not the right answer for America."

"The approach that Governor Romney is talking about is the same sales pitch that was made in 2001 and 2003, and we ended up with the slowest job growth in 50 years, we ended up moving from surplus to deficits and it all culminated with the worst recession since the Great Depression. And, Bill Clinton took the approach that I am talking about. We created 23 million new jobs, we went from deficit to surplus and businesses did very well."

The Romney camp will be hopeful after a first debate victory. But with two more debates to go, the most important thing for both candidates now will be who is ahead in the polls.

Written by Alfred Joyner