U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain (L) and U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama meet as they walked onstage during the first U.S. presidential debate at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi, September 26, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain centered their second debate on economy Tuesday night at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.
They also offered contrasting views on foreign policy issues.
Republican McCain said that he knows how to handle foreign affairs and questioned Democratic Obama's judgment.
"My judgment is something that I think I have a record to stand on," he said.
McCain said the "challenge" facing a president considering using military force "is to know when to go in and when not."
Obama questioned McCain's judgment in supporting the invasion of Iraq.
"When Sen. McCain was cheerleading the president to go into Iraq, he suggested it was going to be quick and easy -- we would be greeted as liberators. That was the wrong judgment," he said.
Obama vowed to get Osama bin Laden and defeat al-Qaida.
"We will kill bin Laden, we will crush al-Qaida," he said.
McCain responded in equally strong terms: "I'll get him. I know how to get him. But I am not going to telegraph my punches as Sen. Obama did."
McCain and Obama seemed to agree that there were situations when the United States should be willing to use force to stop a humanitarian crisis, even when America was not directly threatened.
Earlier, Obama said the country has a "moral commitment as well as an economic imperative" to address the health care problem.
The Illinois senator said health care is a "crushing burden" for small businesses and is "breaking family budgets."
Obama and McCain both proposed computerizing medical records to reduce costs and limit errors.
McCain argued that Obama's plan included fines for small businesses that did not insure their employees, while his was based on "choice" rather than "mandates."
Obama said health care was a "right," while McCain said it was a "responsibility."
Obama's health care plan includes the creation of a national health insurance program for individuals who do not have employer-provided health care and who do not qualify for other existing federal programs. His plan does not mandate individual coverage for all Americans, but requires coverage for all children.
McCain opposes federally mandated universal coverage. He believes competition will improve the quality of health insurance.
McCain says he would reform the tax code to offer choices beyond employee-based health insurance coverage.
Under the plan, all taxpayers would receive a direct refundable tax credit of 2,500 dollars for individuals and 5,000 dollars for families.
During the first half of the debate, the candidates focused on their plans to fix the economy.
McCain said that if he is elected president, he will order the Department of Treasury to buy up Americans' bad mortgages and renegotiate new loans that reflect their homes' diminished value in a bold effort to reverse his sagging fortunes after a month of dire economic news.
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Obama, McCain debate over economy, foreign policy
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