Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney officially accepted the Republican US presidential nomination on Thursday, accusing US President Barack Obama of failing to slow Iran's nuclear program and throwing ally Israel "under the bus."
In a speech which largely focused on attacking Obama's economic policies and pledging to create more jobs, Romney attempted to offset Obama's greatest foreign policy achievement by accusing him of endangering Americans with his policy toward Iran.
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"Every American was relieved the day President Obama gave the order, and Seal Team Six took out Osama bin Laden. But on another front, every American is less secure today because he has failed to slow Iran’s nuclear threat," Romney charged.
"In his first TV interview as president, he said we should talk to Iran. We’re still talking, and Iran’s centrifuges are still spinning," he added.
Romney accused Obama of failing to show enough support for Israel, vowing, "Under my administration, our friends will see more loyalty."
Romney said he would work to unify a divided country that believed Obama's lofty campaign promises but had lost hope they would be fulfilled.
"What is needed in our country today is not complicated or profound. It doesn't take a special government commission to tell us what America needs. What America needs is jobs. Lots of jobs," Romney said.
Earlier, the Republican National Convention in Tampa heard from a series of Romney's friends and relatives who painted a picture of a humane, compassionate man - part of a three-day effort to humanize a candidate often accused of being cold and formal.
Romney's speech, which launches a two-month dash to the Nov. 6 election, was seen by tens of millions of television viewers and gave some their first extended look at the former Massachusetts governor.
It could be a defining moment for Romney, who has struggled to win over conservatives and connect with independent voters in a campaign against Obama that has been dominated by the sluggish economy and lingering high unemployment.
Romney says his experience as a business executive is the cure for the ailing economy and he promised to create 12 million jobs. He drew a sharp comparison between the promise of Obama's election in 2008 and the results of the last four years.
"Today the time has come for us to put the disappointments of the last four years behind us, to put aside the divisiveness and the recriminations," he said. "Now is the time to restore the promise of America."
Romney said Americans wanted to believe in Obama but had suffered from his failures of leadership.
"Hope and change had a powerful appeal. But tonight I'd ask a simple question: If you felt that excitement when you voted for Barack Obama, shouldn't you feel that way now that he's President Obama?"
"You know there's something wrong with the kind of job he's done as president when the best feeling you had, was the day you voted for him.
In an effort to inject a shot of Hollywood glamour into the convention, actor Clint Eastwood spoke before Romney. His appearance fired up the crowd, although his long, rambling and sometimes incoherent blast at Obama frequently fell flat.
"When somebody does not do the job we've got to let them go," Eastwood said.
Romney and Obama have been running close in polls ahead of the election, but the convention so far has given Romney a boost. The latest Reuters/Ipsos online poll showed him moving into a narrow lead over Obama -- 44 percent to 42 percent among likely voters. The Republican had entered the week trailing Obama by four percentage points.
In a speech which largely focused on attacking Obama's economic policies and pledging to create more jobs, Romney attempted to offset Obama's greatest foreign policy achievement by accusing him of endangering Americans with his policy toward Iran.
Related:
"Every American was relieved the day President Obama gave the order, and Seal Team Six took out Osama bin Laden. But on another front, every American is less secure today because he has failed to slow Iran’s nuclear threat," Romney charged.
"In his first TV interview as president, he said we should talk to Iran. We’re still talking, and Iran’s centrifuges are still spinning," he added.
Romney accused Obama of failing to show enough support for Israel, vowing, "Under my administration, our friends will see more loyalty."
Romney said he would work to unify a divided country that believed Obama's lofty campaign promises but had lost hope they would be fulfilled.
"What is needed in our country today is not complicated or profound. It doesn't take a special government commission to tell us what America needs. What America needs is jobs. Lots of jobs," Romney said.
Earlier, the Republican National Convention in Tampa heard from a series of Romney's friends and relatives who painted a picture of a humane, compassionate man - part of a three-day effort to humanize a candidate often accused of being cold and formal.
Romney's speech, which launches a two-month dash to the Nov. 6 election, was seen by tens of millions of television viewers and gave some their first extended look at the former Massachusetts governor.
It could be a defining moment for Romney, who has struggled to win over conservatives and connect with independent voters in a campaign against Obama that has been dominated by the sluggish economy and lingering high unemployment.
Romney says his experience as a business executive is the cure for the ailing economy and he promised to create 12 million jobs. He drew a sharp comparison between the promise of Obama's election in 2008 and the results of the last four years.
"Today the time has come for us to put the disappointments of the last four years behind us, to put aside the divisiveness and the recriminations," he said. "Now is the time to restore the promise of America."
Romney said Americans wanted to believe in Obama but had suffered from his failures of leadership.
"Hope and change had a powerful appeal. But tonight I'd ask a simple question: If you felt that excitement when you voted for Barack Obama, shouldn't you feel that way now that he's President Obama?"
"You know there's something wrong with the kind of job he's done as president when the best feeling you had, was the day you voted for him.
In an effort to inject a shot of Hollywood glamour into the convention, actor Clint Eastwood spoke before Romney. His appearance fired up the crowd, although his long, rambling and sometimes incoherent blast at Obama frequently fell flat.
"When somebody does not do the job we've got to let them go," Eastwood said.
Romney and Obama have been running close in polls ahead of the election, but the convention so far has given Romney a boost. The latest Reuters/Ipsos online poll showed him moving into a narrow lead over Obama -- 44 percent to 42 percent among likely voters. The Republican had entered the week trailing Obama by four percentage points.