Candidates claim debate victory

Both men are campaigning in the key state of Florida

Aides of US President George W Bush and his Democratic challenger John Kerry have both claimed victory after their first TV debate.

Both men are back on the campaign trail in Florida, after clashing over the war in Iraq and homeland security.

They are set to meet in another two debates before the poll on 2 November.

Early reaction from TV voter panels suggests that Mr Kerry had the better of the exchanges, but the debate did not immediately change voters' minds.

BBC Washington correspondent Justin Webb reports that everyone agrees that no knock-out blow was delivered - but it is generally felt that Senator Kerry performed above expectations and President Bush was slightly off his best form.

Arguing their case

Millions watched the debate which took place at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.

The Massachusetts senator's running mate, John Edwards, said he told Mr Kerry after the debate: "I think people saw the next commander-in-chief."

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In graphics

And he criticised Mr Bush for failing to acknowledge problems in Iraq.

"You can't fix a problem if you're not willing to admit that mistakes have been made," he told ABC's Good Morning America.

On the same programme, White House spokesman Dan Bartlett argued Mr Bush's case.

"I think he spoke from the heart, spoke with strength about the necessity for our country to fight the terrorists over there so we don't have to face them here at home," he said.

An ABC News poll found 45% of a sample of registered voters thought Mr Kerry won, 36% chose Mr Bush and 17% who called it a tie. The poll had an error margin of 4.5 percentage points.

A CBS poll showed a clear win for John Kerry, but a third of the undecided voters said they were still on the fence.

'Colossal error'

As expected, Mr Kerry made Iraq the focus of his challenge against the president, saying the war in Iraq had been a diversion that had no links with the 11 September 2001 attacks and was a "colossal error of judgement".

This president has made, I regret to say, a colossal error of judgement, and judgement is what we look for in the president of the United States of America John Kerry US debate: Your views US media reaction World media reaction

Mr Bush said he was confident of poll victory because he had shown the American people he knew how to lead.

And he rejected Mr Kerry's accusation that invading Iraq had been the wrong priority, arguing that he had to deal with both Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.

From Florida, Mr Bush was travelling to Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, which are both battleground states. Mr Kerry is due to spend Friday in Florida - also expected to be key in the contest.

The men will take part in a second debate in Missouri, on 8 October, in a town hall-style meeting where they will take questions from the audience.

The final debate is set for 13 October in Arizona, and will focus on domestic issues.

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