Highlights from the 2nd Presidential Debate

The second Presidential Debate is now in the books. The two candidates duked it out in a town-hall-style debate. Undecided voters got the opportunity to grill President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney at New York's Hofstra University.

The first question came from a college student. The debate started on the topic of jobs which the student asking "What can you say to ensure I can support myself after a graduate?"

Gov. Romney won the coin toss and answered first, "What's happened over the past four years has been very, very hard for America's young people. I want you to be able to get a job. I know what it takes to get this economy going."

President Obama responded by saying he has a plan to build on the five million jobs his administration created in the private sector alone.

The debate heated up with Romney saying fewer people are working now than when the President was elected.

The focus then shifted to energy, specifically oil and drilling. "Production on private land is down," said Romney. "No it isn't," said Obama. "Production on government land is down 14%," said Romney. "What you're saying is just not true," Obama fires back.

Romney stressed the importance of oil and coal production while Obama stressed the need to also invest in alternative energy.

Staying on the topic of the economy, Obama took the opportunity to attack Romney's plan to build the economy from the top to the bottom, "He was asked is it fair for somebody like you making $20 million/year to pay a lower tax rate than a nurse or bus driver making $50,000/year, and he said yes, I think that's fair," said Obama referring to Romney in a previous interview.

Obama says he fundamentally disagrees with Romney's plan. Obama plans to grow the economy from the middle class out.

An undecided voter's question turned the topic to women's issues, specifically equality between men and women in the workplace. Obama brought up his healthcare plan as a way to level the playing field for women, "In my healthcare plan, insurance companies need to provide contraceptive coverage to everybody who is insured because this is not a health issue, it's an economic issue for women."

The final debate will air Monday night on FOX 25.


Highlights from the 2nd Presidential Debate

Posted: Tuesday, October 16 2012, 10:19 PM CDT