Jobs creation was front and centre at today's US Republican presidential debate.
The new front-runners, Texas Governor, Rick Perry, and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, attacked each other's record.
Senior Correspondent Brian Thomson is watching events from New York.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Within the first few minutes of the debate, the candidates traded a volley of barbs.
"As a matter of fact, we created more jobs in the last three months in Texas than he created in four years in Massachusetts," Perry said.
With record unemployment in the US, they engaged in a fiery debate over who created more jobs as state Governor.
"Mike Dukakis created jobs three times faster than you did Mitt," Perry told his rival.
Romney hit back: "As a matter of fact George Bush and his predecessor created jobs at a faster rate than you did governor".
In what increasingly became a two-man debate, the other Republicans played down any differences between them.
Slumping in the polls, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann fought to steal the spotlight back from the front-runners.
"I'm a mom. I've raised five biological kids and 23 foster kids in my home," she said.
"One thing I know is that kids need jobs. And Obamacare is clearly leading to job-killing regulations, not job-creating regulations".
But her support continues to slide and her campaign has suffered a setback after the resignation of two top staffers this week.
Candidates will have two more chances in the next three weeks to gain momentum in the race ahead of primaries in early 2012.
The debate comes on the eve of a major speech on the economy by President Obama.
Before a joint session of Congress tomorrow night, he is expected to push for a $300 billion job creation package.
The speech will also be aimed at saving a job: his.
You can also watch this video here.
