CHARLOTTE: Barack Obama urged wavering supporters not to give up on their dreams of change or on him, as he accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for president in what promises to be a tough race against Republican Mitt Romney.
Obama used his nationally televised speech closing out the Democratic National Convention to try to revive the excitement that powered his first run for the presidency.
With just two months before election day, Obama needs to win over undecided voters, especially those who had been swayed by his inspiring message of hope and change in 2008, but now feel disillusioned after years of economic weakness and persistent political bickering.
“The election four years ago wasn’t about me. It was about you,” he said. “My fellow citizens, you were the change.”
He said the American people were the ones responsible for accomplishments on his watch, such as overhauling health care, changing immigration policies and ending the ban in gays in the military.
If they turned away now, he warned, “you buy into the cynicism that the change we fought for isn’t possible. ” Change, he said, “will not happen.”
Obama built on the message Democrats delivered throughout the convention: that America is on the road to recovery while Romney would revive failed policies, cutting taxes for the rich and slashing programs that give regular Americans a chance for a more prosperous future.
“If you reject the notion that this nation’s promise is reserved for the few, your voice must be heard in this election,” he said.
Republicans, who nominated Romney last week, argue that America’s high 8.3 percent unemployment rate is proof that Obama’s policies have failed and that the president’s spendthrift, big-government policies have hurt business and caused the federal deficit to soar.
The two candidates are locked in tight race. Polls show that Romney, a wealthy businessman and former governor of Massachusetts, is seen as the better candidate for improving the economy, while Obama is viewed as more likable and having a better understanding of everyday Americans.
Obama’s speech marked the climax of the three-day convention. First lady Michelle Obama highlighted the first day, talking about her husband’s humble roots and compassion for those living through tough times. Bill Clinton, the popular former president who led the United States during years of prosperity, gave a rousing speech Wednesday, vouching for Obama’s economic policies and urging Americans not to turn back to Republicans.
Obama set out a goal of creating 1 million new manufacturing jobs by the end of 2016 and push for more aggressive steps to reduce American dependence on foreign oil.
Though the economy has dominated the convention, Democrats have also discussed national security issues, where Obama does well in polls. They highlighted his carrying out his promise to pull U.S. combat forces from Iraq and, especially, his order that led to the killing of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.
Yet after the defense of his policies and the foreign policy jibes came the soaring rhetoric that once captured America’s imagination and propelled Obama’s rapid rise from local politician in Illinois to becoming the first black president of the United States.
“America, I never said this journey would be easy, and I won’t promise that now,” he said, concluding his speech.” Yes, our path is harder_ but it leads to a better place. Yes our road is longer_ but we travel it together. We don’t turn back. We leave no one behind. We pull each other up. We draw strength from our victories, and we learn from our mistakes, but we keep our eyes fixed on that distant horizon, knowing that providence is with us, and that we are surely blessed to be citizens of the greatest nation on earth.”
Romney was wrapping up several days of rehearsals ahead of an Oct. 3 debate with Obama, the first of three. He is expected to resume full-time campaigning within days. Romney said he had no plans to watch Obama on television.
“If the president is going to report on the promises he made and how he has performed in those promises, I’d love to watch it,” Romney said. “But if it’s another series of new promises that he’s not going to keep, I have no interest in seeing him because I saw the promises last time.” (AP)
