President Barack Obama knew he had to appear more energised than in the first one while his Republican challenger Mitt Romney aimed to capitalise on his previously strong performance.

This time the 90-minute contest was far more contentious.

Mitt Romney spelled out what he would do if elected:

"If I become president I will get America working again. I will get us on track to a balanced budget. The president hasn't I will. I will make sure we can reform Medicare and social security so we can preserve them for the coming generations, the president said he would, he didn't. I will get our incomes up and by the way I have done these things, I served as a governor and showed I could get them done."

"There's a fundamentally different vision of how we move our country forward," said President Barack Obama . "I believe Governor Romney is a good man, loves his family cares about his faith, but I also believe when he said behind closed doors that 47 % of the country considered themselves victims, who refused personal responsibility, just think about who he was talking about!"

As expected the economy dominated with Obama relying on improved job figures and Romney taunting him with the country's multi trillion dollar deficit.

But while pundits analysed the answers, its how the viewers who are the voters perceived their performance which counts.

Predictably both sides immediately claimed victory.