A more aggressive Barack Obama buried the memory of a poor first showing as he and Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney clashed in the second presidential debate in New York.

Mr Obama, perceived to have lost their first encounter, came out swinging on the economy, tax and foreign policy.

Snap polls after the debate suggested Mr Obama "won" the contest, although by a narrower margin than his opponent was perceived to have won the first.

But analysts say the race stays tight.

BBC North America editor Mark Mardell says Mr Obama has stopped the panic in his camp.

What Team Obama would have dreaded was anything that contributed to a narrative of decline and defeat for the Democrat as he bids for a second term, our correspondent adds.

A CBS poll of undecided voters who watched the debate gave it to Mr Obama, 37% to 30% with 33% calling the debate a tie.

Meanwhile, a CNN poll of registered voters who watched - not just undecideds - gave the debate to Mr Obama 46-39.

'Say it louder'

In the town hall-style forum at Hofstra University on Long Island, the candidates roamed the stage, circling, interrupting and at times heckling one another as they took questions from an audience of 80 undecided voters.

The moderator, CNN's Candy Crowley, often had to intervene to keep order.