Lively skirmishing marks first US presidential debate

After months of verbal jousting at a distance, US Presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have confronted each other face-to-face for the first time, setting out for voters their vastly different visions for America's future.

Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump at the end of the first Presidential Debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York Source: AAP

The high-stakes showdown - the first of three presidential debates - comes as both candidates are viewed negatively by large numbers of Americans.

 

Democrat Ms Clinton is facing questions from the electorate about her trustworthiness, and Republican Mr Trump is struggling to convince many voters that he has the temperament and policy depth to be president.