Election Day will be more than about a president, it will be about the country's future.
That's the point President Obama tried to drive home Thursday when he formally accepted his party's nomination. Excerpts of his speech were released today by the Obama Campaign.
“But when all is said and done – when you pick up that ballot to vote – you will face the clearest choice of any time in a generation. Over the next few years, big decisions will be made in Washington, on jobs and the economy; taxes and deficits; energy and education; war and peace – decisions that will have a huge impact on our lives and our children’s lives for decades to come.
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- IN DEPTH: DNC News, Schedule & Behind-the-Scenes Photos
- Read the speeches: President Obama | Vice President Biden
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Instead, he whittled the election down to a choice, spelling out his vision of how to create economic opportunity for all, and warning that Romney would restore trickle-down ideas that Obama says were quietly gutting the economy for years before crashing it completely.
That's the policy part. Obama will also try to summon inspiration again that America is right on the cusp of what it could be.
"Our problems can be solved," he will say. "Our challenges can be met. The path we offer may be harder, but it leads to a better place. And I’m asking you to choose that future. I’m asking you to rally around a set of goals for your country – goals in manufacturing, energy, education, national security, and the deficit; a real, achievable plan that will lead to new jobs, more opportunity, and rebuild this economy on a stronger foundation. That’s what we can do in the next four years, and that’s why I’m running for a second term as President of the United States.”
The president echoed many of the same themes his biggest supporters hammered home over the three days of the convention -- that the country is just starting to move forward, and Obama needs to stay in office because, as they claim -- the Romney-Ryan team will go back to the "policies of the past."
"[Republicans] want your vote, but they don’t want you to know their plan," Obama said. "And that’s because all they have to offer is the same prescription they’ve had for the last thirty years -- Have a surplus? Try a tax cut. Deficit too high? Try another. Feel a cold coming on? Take two tax cuts, roll back some regulations, and call us in the morning!”
Obama also tried to fight a big attack by the Romney campaign, that Obama wants to create a society dependent on government.
"We don’t think government can solve all our problems," Obama said. "But we don’t think that government is the source of all our problems – any more than are welfare recipients, or corporations, or unions, or immigrants, or gays, or any other group we’re told to blame for our troubles."
Pres. Obama's speech generated 52,757 tweets per minute on Twitter Thursday night, setting new political record on the social media website. There were a total of 9 million tweets sent out about the DNC.
Biden, the attack dog, accepts VP nomination
Vice President Joe Biden acted as President Obama's final herald Thursday as he accepted his own nomination from the party.
In his remarks, Biden trumpeted the president's bravery and his compassion, just as former President Bill Clinton and First Lady Michelle Obama had done in the two previous nights.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m here to tell you, bravery resides in the heart of Barack Obama," Biden said to cheers from the crowd in Charlotte. "And time and time again, I witnessed him summon it. This man has courage in his soul, compassion in his heart, and steel in his spine. And because of all the actions he took, because of the calls he made--and because of the grit and determination of American workers--and the unparalled bravery of our special forces--we can now proudly say— Osama Bin Laden is dead, and General Motors is alive."
That last line is one Biden had used on the campaign trail before.
When he was done praising, he turned his guns on Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan and the Republicans, attacking them on Medicare (he called it "Vouchercare") and on the country's debt, accusing the opponents of rejecting every plan put forward to pay down the debt. He also accused Romney of raising taxes on the middle class and cutting taxes for the wealthy, calling it "not decent or fair."
He also tried to make the case, as Michelle Obama and former President Clinton tried, that the country's economic problems were never going to be solved in four years. That's a case President Obama will also try to make in his own speech.
"The journey of hope is not yet finished, but we are on our way," Biden said. "The cause of change is not fully accomplished, but we are on our way. So I say to you tonight, with absolute confidence, America’s best days are ahead of us, and, yes, we are on our way."
Romney Campaign responds
“Tonight President Obama laid out the choice in this election, making the case for more of the same policies that haven't worked for the past four years. He offered more promises, but he hasn’t kept the promises he made four years ago. Americans will hold President Obama accountable for his record - they know they’re not better off and that it’s time to change direction. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will restore America’s promise and deliver a better future for our country.”
What's next for Obama, Romney?
The Obamas and the Bidens will head to New Hampshire Friday for their first post-convention rally. They then split up. President Obama will be in Florida Saturday and Sunday, with stops in St. Petersburg, Kissimmee, Melbourne and West Palm Beach.
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan do not have any Florida stops scheduled yet, but as Florida is an important battleground state, both will likely be here soon.
The first debate is Oct. 3 in Denver. Both presidential candidates will be spending time practicing. Romney is already prepping for it.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.