U. S. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has accepted his party's nomination, pledging to “restore the promise of America.”
Mr. Romney addressed the Republican National Convention and millions of Americans watching on television late Thursday. He said he wished U.S. President Barack Obama had succeeded, because he wants the U.S. to succeed. But, Mr. Romney said, the president's promises instead “gave way to disappointment and division,” and Americans “deserve better.”
“This president can tell us it was someone else's fault. This president can tell us that the next four years, he'll get it right. But this president cannot tell us that you are better off today than when he took office.”
He said that if elected president, he will use a five-step plan to grow the economy and create 12 million jobs.
Mr. Romney also promised “less flexibility and more backbone” in global diplomacy, along with “more loyalty” to U.S. allies such as Israel.
The presidential candidate even appealed to women voters, a demographic he has struggled with, by praising the Republican female leaders in attendance and by pointing out that, as governor, he had a woman as lieutenant governor, a woman chief of staff and women in half of his senior posts.
The convention night included appearances from Olympians, including five-time Olympic medalist Kim Rhode, and film actor and director Clint Eastwood. Eastwood received a roar from the crowd when he referred to politicians as “employees” of citizens who need to be let go when they do not “do the job.”
Earlier Thursday evening, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio said Mr. Romney's success in business is “well-known,” but the presidential candidate was “so much more than that.” He called the Republican presidential candidate a “role model” for younger Americans like himself.
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush – the younger brother of former president George W. Bush – chastised Mr. Obama during his speech to convention delegates. Bush said Mr. Obama should stop blaming his brother for the nation's woes, saying “a real leader would accept responsibility for his actions and you haven't done it.”
Mr. Romney — a one-time venture capitalist and former governor of Massachusetts — says he can boost the country's sluggish economy with lower taxes and less government regulation. But Mr. Obama, the Democratic incumbent, says a Romney presidency would result in a return to policies that led to the country's worst economic downturn since the 1930s.
Nationwide voter surveys show the two candidates in a virtual tie 10 weeks ahead of the November 6 election. Voters say they think Mr. Romney would be better suited to fix the nation's economy, but they like Mr. Obama more.
In the state of Virginia Wednesday, President Obama called the Republican convention a “pretty entertaining show,” but said voters will not hear Mr. Romney or other Republican party officials offer “a clear, serious path forward.”
The Democrats will hold their convention next week in Charlotte, North Carolina.
