Obama and Romney take stage for first debate

US President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney took to the stage and shook hands before the first of three televised presidential debates.

US President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney took to the stage Wednesday and shook hands before the first of three televised presidential debates.

US President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on October 3, in Denver, Colorado, at the start of the first of three presidential debates.

The pair were to joust for 90 minutes on a stage at the University of Denver, in Colorado, in what has been billed as a possible turning point in the run-up to the November 6 election for the White House.

Both candidates made brief, two-minute introductions, Obama taking the chance to congratulate his wife Michelle on their 20th wedding anniversary and Romney pushing his plans to create jobs by helping small businesses.

The moderator, veteran news anchor Jim Lehrer of "PBS NewsHour," said the debate would be split into six 15-minute sections focusing on domestic policy and the economy.