Both candidates attack, play defense

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and U.S. President Barack Obama shake hands following the second presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, on Tuesday, October 16, moderated by CNN's Candy Crowley. See the best photos of the first presidential debate. President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama embrace after the debate. U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney point fingers at each other. U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speak over each other. President Obama and Republican presidential nominee Romney point the finger at each other. CNN's Candy Crowley moderates the second presidential debate between President Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. President Obama and Romney clash during the debate. Romney and President Obama interrupt each other during the debate. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and U.S. President Barack Obama debate. U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney both speak at the same time. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and President Obama go head to head. Romney gestures to make a point as President Obama looks on. U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney square off. U.S. President Barack Obama listens to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. President Obama promotes his policies as Mitt Romney listens. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney addresses a question as President Obama listens. President Obama awaits his turn to speak. U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney greet the audience. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and U.S. President Barack Obama greet each other on stage. U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney shake hands.6. President Obama and Republican presidential candidate Romney shake hands before the start of the debate. Moderator Candy Crowley of CNN speaks to the audience prior to the start of a town hall-style presidential debate. Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, speaks with members of the audience before the start of the second presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, on Tuesday, October 16. First lady Michelle Obama awaits the start of the second presidential debate. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his wife Ann await the start of the second presidential debate in a holding room. The audience gathers in the stands prior to the start of the presidential debate on Tuesday. Co-chairs Frank Fahrenkopf, left, and Mike McCurry of the Commission on Presidential Debates speak in the lead up to the town hall-style debate. Audience members take photographs while they wait for the debate to begin. Members of the audience have taken their seats. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 NEW: President Barack Obama, Mitt Romney battle on taxes, immigration and energy NEW: Obama says voters "can't buy" Romney's sales pitch NEW: Romney says Obama failed in his four years as president Audience members ask questions, with CNN's Candy Crowley serving as moderator Watch a replay of Tuesday's presidential debate at 12 p.m. ET and CNN's exclusive expert analysis on CNN TV, CNN.com and CNN's apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. Clip-and-share your favorite debate moments on Facebook and Twitter, and join the discussion on our live blog. (CNN) -- President Barack Obama fought back and Republican challenger Mitt Romney mostly stood his ground. A forceful Obama defended his record and challenged Romney on shifting positions in the 90-minute debate, arguing his Republican rival's policies would favor the wealthy if elected. Romney repeatedly attacked Obama's record, saying millions of unemployed people and sluggish economic recovery showed the president's policies had failed. Obama was more animated and engaging than his understated and widely panned performance in their first debate nearly two weeks ago. iReport: Your questions for Candy Crowley Romney to student: You will have a job Obama, Romney clash over energy Obama on jobs: Romney has '1-point plan' Romney: High-income tax will be same He and Romney, who also aggressively made his points, walked the floor at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, holding microphones, raising their voices and repeatedly challenging each other's points. "Governor Romney says he's got a five-point plan. Governor Romney doesn't have a five-point plan; he has a one-point plan. And that plan is to make sure that folks at the top play by a different set of rules," Obama said about his opponent's approach for boosting the economy. Romney shot back that Obama was "great as a speaker, but his policies don't work." "That's what this election is all about," Romney said, saying he would prioritize middle class growth. "It's about how we can get the middle class of this country a bright and prosperous future." Transcript: Second presidential debate However, Romney failed to provide further specifics of his tax policy, even when one audience member asked about unspecified deductions and loopholes the candidate says he will eliminate. On a sensitive foreign policy topic, the candidates clashed at the front of the stage over the September 11 terrorist attack in Libya that killed four Americans, with Romney suggesting the Obama administration played politics by failing to immediately acknowledge what happened. Obama shot back that the suggestion anyone in his administration would play politics on such an issue was "offensive." When Obama said he called it a terrorist attack shortly afterward, Romney challenged him, and Obama responded "check the transcript." CNN Electoral Map Moderator Candy Crowley, the CNN chief political correspondent, cut in to say both men were right -- Obama called it a terrorist attack when he said he did, but the administration took longer to fully explain what occurred. Unlike the first presidential debate, the format was town hall-style, with audience members asking the questions. Crowley was the first woman to serve as moderator of a presidential debate in 20 years. The first question came from a 20-year-old college student, worried about whether he'd be able to support himself after graduation. "More debt and less jobs. I'm going to change that. I know what it takes to create good jobs again," Romney said, addressing the first-time voter. "When you come out in 2014 -- I presume I'm going to be president -- I'm going to make sure you get a job." Test your knowledge with debate trivia Obama needed a strong debate to try to blunt Romney's rise in the polls since their first showdown in Denver, when analysts and polls indicated the GOP challenger won a clear victory. The most recent CNN "poll of polls" -- an aggregate of the latest major surveys -- showed Romney with a slight edge nationally at 48%-47%. In the battleground states considered up-for-grabs, polls show Romney has narrowed Obama's lead or caught the president just three weeks before the election. The Obama campaign conceded he had a bad night in the first debate and promised a more aggressive approach in New York. A third and final debate focusing on foreign policy will take place October 22 in Florida. Polls show voters consider the economy to be the most important election issue. Where they stand: The candidates and issues Unemployment fell below 8% in September for the first time since the month Obama took office in 2009. However, millions remain out of work and U.S. economic growth is anemic. Romney and his campaign have sought to frame the election as a referendum on Obama's presidency, citing joblessness, slow recovery from the recession and chronic federal deficits and debt as reasons to deny a second term. For their part, Obama and Democrats have tried to make the election about competing visions for the future. They argue Republican proposals to repeal major legislation, such as health care and Wall Street reforms, while cutting government and expanding tax cuts without identifying additional revenue sources would stall a sluggish but steady recovery. A snapshot of the nation: CNN poll of polls

Jogger killed in police shootout in California

By Toni Guinyard and Jonathan Lloyd , NBCLosAngeles.com Family members and friends left photos and messages at a memorial Monday in honor of a jogger who was shot and killed during an officer-involved shooting Saturday after a brief pursuit in Oxnard, Calif. Authorities confirmed Tuesday that 21-year-old Limon was caught in the cross-fire -- one of two men shot and killed Saturday after officers exchanged gunfire with two people involved in a pursuit following traffic stop. "The violent behavior of these suspects in this incident created and resulted in a tragedy and tragic death of Mr. Limon," said Chief Jeri Williams. Officers attempted to stop three subjects in a vehicle at about 10 p.m. Saturday near East 2nd Street and Grant Avenue in Oxnard. During the traffic stop, responding officers received a report that the men might have displayed a handgun, according to police. The men in the vehicle refused to comply with the officers' instructions and drove away from the intersection, police said. "As soon as the driver stopped, two subjects exited the vehicle and ran from the officers," police said. "The officers chased the subjects and were fired upon. Multiple officers returned fire." Limon was jogging at the time of the shooting, family members said. Read the original story at NBCLosAngeles.com "He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and he just got caught in the mix," said Christian Lopez, a friend of Limon. A message at the Limon memorial near the site of the shootout read: "Alfonso, you will always be my big brother. I will think of you every day. I will miss you." It was not immediately clear whether Limon was struck by gunfire from the officers or pursuit subjects. "It's a very complicated investigation," said Gary Pentis, of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. "We have a team of scientists, trajectory experts, weapons experts, bloods experts – a lot of forensic evidence to go through." One of the men involved in the pursuit surrendered at the North Garfield Avenue location. The second deceased victim was identified as 24-year-old Jose Zepeda, of Oxnard. A third individual – identified as 24-year-old Justin Villa – involved in the pursuit was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Watch US News videos on NBCNews.com Villa and Rafael Hernandez, 22, were arrested in connection with the case, police said. No officers were injured. The officers involved in the shooting – authorities said "multiple" officers responded to the location – were placed on administrative leave. Bullet holes were left in building walls and nearby vehicles. Weapons were recovered at the scene of the shooting, police said. More content from NBCNews.com: Fastest US land animal, the pronghorn, gets help crossing highway Both female officers drop out of grueling Marine Corps infantry course Bronx teacher banned from district after racy photos of student found High Court refuses to weigh in on early voting in Ohio Video: Wrong-way chase caught on dashcam Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

New York woman gives birth in elevator

By NBCNewYork.com A 31-year-old New York woman gave birth to a baby girl in her apartment elevator shortly after hospital nurses told her to return home because they said she wasn't ready to deliver. Ninfa Ramirez and soon-to-be father Armando Ortiz, 34, rushed to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx Sunday evening because Ramirez was experiencing labor pains. Nurses told the couple the baby wasn't ready so they could go home, according to The New York Post. Read the full report at NBCNewYork.com Moments after Ortiz dropped Ramirez off at their Bronxdale apartment and headed out to run an errand, he was summoned back by Ramirez, who told him the baby was coming. They made it to the elevator, but the baby couldn't wait. Ortiz and two of his pals delivered Monserrath Ortiz in the elevator on the first floor, reports The Post. Ortiz called the delivery "a beautiful experience" and the glowing mother told the paper "it was a big surprise." Ramirez and her 9-pound, 8-ounce daughter were then taken by ambulance to Jacobi hospital. Ortiz told the Post he doesn't mind the nurses sent them home; he's just proud to be a dad. More content from NBCNews.com: Fastest US land animal, the pronghorn, gets help crossing highway Both female officers drop out of grueling Marine Corps infantry course Bronx teacher banned from district after racy photos of student found High Court refuses to weigh in on early voting in Ohio Video: Wrong-way chase caught on dashcam Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

New York woman gives birth in elevator

By NBCNewYork.com A 31-year-old New York woman gave birth to a baby girl in her apartment elevator shortly after hospital nurses told her to return home because they said she wasn't ready to deliver. Ninfa Ramirez and soon-to-be father Armando Ortiz, 34, rushed to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx Sunday evening because Ramirez was experiencing labor pains. Nurses told the couple the baby wasn't ready so they could go home, according to The New York Post. Read the full report at NBCNewYork.com Moments after Ortiz dropped Ramirez off at their Bronxdale apartment and headed out to run an errand, he was summoned back by Ramirez, who told him the baby was coming. They made it to the elevator, but the baby couldn't wait. Ortiz and two of his pals delivered Monserrath Ortiz in the elevator on the first floor, reports The Post. Ortiz called the delivery "a beautiful experience" and the glowing mother told the paper "it was a big surprise." Ramirez and her 9-pound, 8-ounce daughter were then taken by ambulance to Jacobi hospital. Ortiz told the Post he doesn't mind the nurses sent them home; he's just proud to be a dad. More content from NBCNews.com: Fastest US land animal, the pronghorn, gets help crossing highway Both female officers drop out of grueling Marine Corps infantry course Bronx teacher banned from district after racy photos of student found High Court refuses to weigh in on early voting in Ohio Video: Wrong-way chase caught on dashcam Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Canada closes crossing after shooting

NEW: A dozen officers with guns drawn surround a white van, motorist tells CTV Officer with Canada Border Service Agency is injured by gunfire The Peace Arch, or Douglas crossing, is shut down The crossing connects British Columbia and Blaine, Washington (CNN) -- Canadian authorities closed a border crossing Tuesday afternoon across from Blaine, Washington, after a shooting of one of their border officers, officials said. The officer was injured by the gunfire, and no other details were being released, said spokeswoman Patrizia Giolti of the Canada Border Services Agency. The closed British Columbia port is known as the Douglas or the Peace Arch crossing, and Canadian authorities are asking motorists to use another area crossing, said Faith St. John with the Canada Border Services Agency. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were investigating. Dave Noble told CNN affiliate CTV that he saw a chaotic scene when he arrived at the crossing Tuesday. About a dozen border guards with guns drawn encircled a white van. "They had it surrounded. ... You knew something had gone down," he said. "It's very shocking. I feel terrible for the border guard. I come here quite a bit, and don't know any of them personally ... but there are some really nice people that work here." Authorities told Lisa Kennedy that she and her family would be waiting for a while. She saw all the ambulances and police cars pull up to the scene, where the van's doors were opened. "They said, 'Hold on, you guys are going to be here for a long time. We've had an injury, a fairly serious one," Kennedy told CTV. Canadian Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews said he was "deeply concerned by the news of the shooting today at the Peace Arch border crossing of a CBSA officer." "This event is a sobering reminder of the dangerous conditions faced daily by the men and women of our law enforcement agencies as they work to protect the safety and security of Canadians," Toews said. About 60 vehicles were stranded on the Canadian side of the border. CNN's Amanda Watts contributed to this report.