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Democratic convention calls for Obama re-election Michelle Obama: 'Barack knows your struggle'
(35 minutes later)
US First Lady Michelle Obama is headlining the first night of the Democratic Party convention, urging voters to re-elect her husband.  
She is addressing a packed convention centre in Charlotte, North Carolina, following a string of fiery speeches. US First Lady Michelle Obama has made an impassioned speech backing her husband, President Barack Obama, for another four-year White House term.
Former President Bill Clinton is Wednesday's highlight, with President Obama to close the event on Thursday. Closing the first night of the Democratic convention, Mrs Obama spoke of the couple's shared background in struggling families.
Republican nominee Mitt Romney is expected to spend the week preparing for a series of debates with Mr Obama. She also noted the "extraordinary privilege" of serving as first lady.
President Obama will formally accept the nomination on Thursday, and face Republican Mitt Romney in November.
A recent opinion poll shows Mr Obama maintains a thin lead over Mr Romney.A recent opinion poll shows Mr Obama maintains a thin lead over Mr Romney.
But an ABC News/Washington Post poll released as the convention got under way showed Mr Obama with the lowest pre-convention favourability for an incumbent president since the 1980s.But an ABC News/Washington Post poll released as the convention got under way showed Mr Obama with the lowest pre-convention favourability for an incumbent president since the 1980s.
With November's election looming, the president will aim to recapture the political spotlight over the next few days, after last week's Republican convention. The president is aiming to recapture the political spotlight over the next few days, after last week's Republican convention.
Mr Obama is expected to answer Republican attacks that his economic policies have failed, and present himself to voters as an experienced and caring alternative to Mr Romney. 'Kindred spirit'
First lady's address Mrs Obama said that four years ago she "believed deeply" in her husband's "vision for this country" but worried about how a run for president would change their life and the life of their daughters.
The chair of the Democratic National Committee, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, brought the gala into session with a strike of the gavel at 17:00 EDT (21:00 GMT).
Shortly after the convention opened, delegates cheered their backing for the party's new platform in a open voice vote.
Among the changes found in the text of the party's 2012 platform was the removal of language from the Middle East section referring to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
#DNC2012 Michelle - an extremely skillful speech that weaved the personal and political into one piece @BBCNewsUS#DNC2012 Michelle - an extremely skillful speech that weaved the personal and political into one piece @BBCNewsUS
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    • #DNC2012 There's a danger the convention will give Michelle the nomination - and there would be no stopping her@BBCNewsUS#DNC2012 There's a danger the convention will give Michelle the nomination - and there would be no stopping her@BBCNewsUS
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    • #DNC2012 Michelle -he just keeps getting up and moving forward…with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace. @BBCNewsUS#DNC2012 Michelle -he just keeps getting up and moving forward…with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace. @BBCNewsUS
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    • #DNC2012 A highly political speech -RNC made the case for compassionate Mitt, but Michelle links caring Barack to politics@BBCNewsUS#DNC2012 A highly political speech -RNC made the case for compassionate Mitt, but Michelle links caring Barack to politics@BBCNewsUS
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    • #DNC2012 For B, success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives. @BBCNewsUS#DNC2012 For B, success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives. @BBCNewsUS
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    • Content from Twitter. Learn more about content from Twitter.Content from Twitter. Learn more about content from Twitter.
    In a speech roundly welcomed by a hyped-up crowd, she shared memories from their 23-year relationship, and noted that she had found a "kindred spirit" in a man whose values were similar to hers.
    "Barack and I were both raised by families who didn't have much in the way of money or material possessions but who had given us something far more valuable - their unconditional love, their unflinching sacrifice, and the chance to go places they had never imagined for themselves."
    The first lady's speech connected their shared background to the values she said guided Mr Obama as president.
    "As president, you can get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people," she said "But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as president, all you have to guide you are your values and your vision and the life experiences that make you who you are."
    She said Mr Obama was inspired by his own background when advocating for laws involving fair pay for women, healthcare and student debt.
    He had not been changed by the White House, she said, and was "still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago".
    "He's the same man who started his career by turning down high-paying jobs and instead working in struggling neighbourhoods where a steel plant had shut down, fighting to rebuild those communities."
    Fiery speeches
    Earlier, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, brought the gala into session with a strike of the gavel at 17:00 EDT (21:00 GMT).
    Shortly after the convention opened, delegates cheered their backing for the party's new platform in a open voice vote.
    Among the changes found in the text of the party's 2012 platform was the removal of language from the Middle East section referring to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
    That message was replaced with a passage referring to the party's "unshakeable commitment to Israel's security" and Mr Obama's "steadfast opposition to any attempt to delegitimize Israel".That message was replaced with a passage referring to the party's "unshakeable commitment to Israel's security" and Mr Obama's "steadfast opposition to any attempt to delegitimize Israel".
    The change prompted criticism from Republicans and Mitt Romney, who accuse Mr Obama of "selling out" a key US ally.The change prompted criticism from Republicans and Mitt Romney, who accuse Mr Obama of "selling out" a key US ally.
    Tuesday's first session saw a series of Democratic governors, members of Congress, mayors and electoral candidates speak in support of Mr Obama and his policies, most notably his much-criticised healthcare reform law.Tuesday's first session saw a series of Democratic governors, members of Congress, mayors and electoral candidates speak in support of Mr Obama and his policies, most notably his much-criticised healthcare reform law.
    A video tribute to the late Senator Edward Kennedy included clips from his 1994 Senate debate with Mr Romney, and independent Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee argued that his former party - the Republicans - had lost their way and had forfeited the label of conservative.A video tribute to the late Senator Edward Kennedy included clips from his 1994 Senate debate with Mr Romney, and independent Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee argued that his former party - the Republicans - had lost their way and had forfeited the label of conservative.
    Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said the next president would set the tone for the next 40 years.Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said the next president would set the tone for the next 40 years.
    "It will be the president's leadership that determines how we as a nation meet the challenges that face the middle class. It is the president's values that shape a future in which the middle class has hope," he said."It will be the president's leadership that determines how we as a nation meet the challenges that face the middle class. It is the president's values that shape a future in which the middle class has hope," he said.
    Mrs Obama's address at the end of Tuesday's session is focussing on the president's character and praises his attributes as a father and husband.
    Her remarks will inevitably be compared and contrasted with those by would-be first lady Ann Romney, who gave a glowing tribute to her husband last week to the Republican convention in Tampa, Florida.
    The Democratic convention is seeking to highlight the party's diversity, with young black and Hispanic party members delivering speeches.
    Julian Castro, the Latino Mayor of San Antonio, Texas, gave the keynote address immediately before Mrs Obama.Julian Castro, the Latino Mayor of San Antonio, Texas, gave the keynote address immediately before Mrs Obama.
    No shows
    But a number of the country's top Democratic figures are not attending.
    Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is missing a Democratic convention for the first time in more than 40 years on account of ethical guidelines preventing cabinet heads from participating in political activities.
    Nor will California Governor Jerry Brown and former Vice-President Al Gore be present, both citing personal commitments.
    A number of Democratic congressional candidates and incumbents have also declined to attend, as they are engaged in tough battles for election in November.
    The Democratic gathering will see Mr Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden formally re-nominated as the party's presidential and vice-presidential candidates on Wednesday.The Democratic gathering will see Mr Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden formally re-nominated as the party's presidential and vice-presidential candidates on Wednesday.
    Later that evening, there will be speeches from Elizabeth Warren, who is fighting Republican incumbent Scott Brown in a high-profile race for a Massachusetts Senate seat, and former President Clinton. Later that evening, there will be speeches from Elizabeth Warren, who is fighting Republican incumbent Scott Brown in a high-profile race for a Massachusetts Senate seat, and former President Bill Clinton.
    The convention culminates on Thursday with speeches from Mr Obama and Mr Biden.The convention culminates on Thursday with speeches from Mr Obama and Mr Biden.
    Obama stadium speech Republican nominee Mitt Romney is expected to spend the week preparing for a series of debates with Mr Obama.
    The gala also offers the Democrats the chance to make a high-profile pitch to voters in North Carolina, a state that narrowly voted for Mr Obama in 2008, but is now firmly up for grabs.The gala also offers the Democrats the chance to make a high-profile pitch to voters in North Carolina, a state that narrowly voted for Mr Obama in 2008, but is now firmly up for grabs.
    As they did four years ago, the Democrats will take the event outside the convention centre for the president's prime-time speech, taking over a 74,000-seater stadium in Charlotte for the final night of speeches. As they did four years ago, the Democrats will take the event outside the convention centre for the president's prime-time speech, taking over a 74,000-seater stadium in Charlotte for the final night of speeches - despite a poor weather forecast.
    Organisers are working to ensure a full house for Mr Obama's speech. But organisers are concerned that thunderstorms forecast to hit Charlotte during the convention could keep people away.
    Meanwhile, Republicans were quick to seize on a remark Mr Obama made on Monday, in which he told a local Colorado news station that he would give himself an "incomplete" grade on the economy.
    Vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan told CBS News that the US should be "bouncing out of" the recent recession. "We're not creating jobs at near the pace we could," he said.
    A Gallup opinion poll on Monday suggested the convention had given the Republicans only the slightest of boosts, with 40% saying they were now more likely to vote for Mr Romney but 38% of respondents describing themselves as less likely to.
    Mr Obama maintained a lead over Mr Romney of one percentage point - as he had done before the event.