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Thursday, Oct 4, 2012 7:16 AM UTC

Romney barrels out of first debate on offense

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Topics: From the Wires,

Romney barrels out of first debate on offenseKinard Lang, right, reacts while watching the first Presidential debate between Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and President Barack Obama on Wednesday Oct. 3, 2012, at a restaurant in the West Oak Lane section of Philadelphia. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)(Credit: AP)

DENVER (AP) — Mitt Romney is barreling out of the first presidential debate energized by a solid performance that showed his determination to take it to President Barack Obama with gusto.

The president, intent on keeping his momentum from stalling, is warning Americans that his Republican rival’s policy prescriptions for a fragile economy are more fantasy than reality.

Standing toe-to-toe with the president Wednesday for the first time in the campaign, Romney held his own at a time when there already were signs that the race is tightening in some of the battleground states where Obama has enjoyed an advantage.

Obama kept his cool and signaled that he won’t let up on his message that Romney’s plans on taxes, health care, the deficit and more just don’t add up.

More Kasie Hunt.

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