Key moments: Second US presidential debate
Key moments from the second US presidential televised debate between President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney ahead of next month's election.
The two candidates clashed over jobs, with Mr Romney saying fewer Americans were in work now than when President Obama took office.
"We have not made the progress we need to make to put people back to work," he said.
"I want to make small businesses grow and thrive. I know how to make that happen."
In response, Mr Obama attacked his opponent's five-point plan for economic growth.
"He doesn't have a five-point plan, he has a one-point plan, and that is to make sure that folks at the top play by a different set of rules," Mr Obama said.
"That's been his philosophy in the private sector, that's been his philosophy as a governor, and that's been his philosophy as a presidential candidate."
One of the fiercest exchanges came on energy.
Mr Obama said oil and gas production was up and US oil imports were down to the lowest levels in 20 years.
"Most importantly, we're also starting to build cars that are more efficient. And that's creating jobs," he said.
But As Mr Romney pressed the president on licences for oil drilling, Mr Obama left his seat and moved towards his challenger.
As tempers cooled, Mr Romney insisted: "I don't think anyone really believes you are a person who is going to be pushing for oil and gas and coal."
Mr Romney said he wanted to simplify the tax code and give middle-income citizens lower taxes.
"And the reason I want middle-income taxpayers to have lower taxes is because middle-income taxpayers have been buried over the past four years," he said.
Mr Obama said he also wanted to give middle-class families and those "striving to get into the middle-class" some relief.
"Four years ago... I said I would cut taxes for middle-class families, and that's what I've done," he said.
"I said I would cut taxes for small businesses, who are the drivers and engines of growth. And we've cut them 18 times."
When President Obama said Mr Romney had investments in China, Mr Romney challenged him saying that through his pension Mr Obama also had Chinese investments.
"Mr President, have you looked at your pension?" Mr Romney interrupted.
"You know, I don't look at my pension. It's not as big as yours," Mr Obama quipped.
Mr Romney criticised Mr Obama over his handling of last month's consulate attack in Libya, in which the US ambassador and three other Americans were killed.
He said the administration's response called into question its whole Middle East policy.
President Obama said the suggestion that he had misled the public about the nature of the attack was "offensive".
Although Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has taken responsibility for the deaths, he added: "I'm the president, and I'm always responsible."
President Obama vowed that those responsible would be "hunted down".