John McCain, left, and Barack Obama shake hands after first presidential debate (26 Sep 08)

The U.S. presidential candidates, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, are getting back to work following their first debate.

Senator McCain, the Republican candidate, is in Washington Saturday, engaging with other lawmakers in negotiations on a financial rescue plan, which is a major concern of voters.

Senator Obama is campaigning with his vice-presidential running mate, Joe Biden, in Virginia and North Carolina, two Republican-leaning southern states that Democrats think they may be able to win.

The two candidates faced off Friday in a debate about the economy and foreign policy.

On the U.S. financial crisis, both candidates supported the general idea of a government bailout plan, but differed on how to revive the economy.

On foreign policy, McCain hailed the success of the military surge in Iraq.  Obama criticized the decision to invade Iraq in the first place, saying the U.S. should have focused on Afghanistan.

During the debate, in Oxford, Mississippi, the candidates both agreed that Iran would pose a major threat to Israel if Tehran acquired a nuclear weapon.  But McCain argued for greater sanctions on Iran, while Obama called for tough, direct diplomacy.

The debate at the University of Mississippi drew global interest.

Two more presidential debates are scheduled on October seventh and October 15.  The vice presidential nominees, Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Joe Biden, will face off next Thursday.

Voters will choose a successor to President George Bush on November 4.
 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.