After a year of campaigning, two major party conventions and innumerable Republican primary debates, it has come down to this: President Barack Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney squaring off in the first of three televised presidential debates, vying for the the upper hand as they make their pitches to the American people.

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Stick with the International Business Times tonight as we provide ongoing commentary, context and analysis as the two nominees go head to head in Denver, beginning at 9 p.m. EDT.

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