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Wednesday night marked the first of three presidential debates in which President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Governor Mitt Romney will go head-to-head on a national stage.  

VIDEO: The Great Debater! Highlights Of Obama’s Best Debate Moments

Tonight’s debate was held at the University of Denver and focused on domestic issues including the economy, health care, governing, and the role of government. President Obama maintained a calm and cool demeanor, while in contrast, this was the most passionate and most alive Romney has ever been.

Here are a few memorable quotes from the candidates during the debate:

On regulation Romney said the following:

“Regulation is essential. You can’t have a free market work without regulation… You have to have regulation so that you can have the economy work. Every free economy has regulation. At the same time regulation can become excessive, it can become out of date. And what’s happened with some of the legislation that’s been passed under President Obama’s term is you’ve seen some of the regulation become excessive and it has hurt the economy.”

Here’s what Obama said about regulation:

“The reason we have been in such an enormous economic crisis was prompted by reckless behavior across the board… The question is 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. But that’s not what I believe.”

On Obama’s economic plan, Romney said:

“I’m concerned that we’re on the path that’s just been unsuccessful. The president has a view very similar to the one he had when he ran for office four years ago, that spending more, taxing more, regulating more – if you will, trickle-down government – would work. That’s not the right answer for America.”

On taxes Romney said:

“I’m not looking to cut massive taxes and reduce the revenues going to the government. My number one principle is there will be no tax cut that adds to the deficit. But I do want to reduce the burden being paid by middle-income Americans. And to do that, that also means I cannot reduce the burden paid by high-income people.”

In response to Romney’s tax plan, Obama said:

“If you think by closing loopholes and deductions for the well-to-do somehow you will not end up picking up the tab, then Governor Romney’s plan may work for you. But I think math, common sense, and our history, shows us that’s not a recipe for job growth.”

“If you’re lowering the rates as you describe, governor, it is not possible to come up with enough deductions and loopholes that only affect high-income individuals or burdening the middle class. It’s math, it’s arithmetic.”

And on small business Obama says:

“We do have a difference when it comes to definitions of small business… Under Governor Romney’s definition there are a bunch of millionaires and billionaires who are small businesses. Donald Trump is a small business. And I know Donald Trump doesn’t like to think of himself as small anything but that’s how you define small business if you’re getting business income.”

The next presidential debate between Obama and Romney will take place on October 16 at Hofstra University in New York. We can’t wait for round two!

Obama on the deficit

Medicare & Social Security

Obamacare

Role of Federal Government

SOURCE: Yahoo