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Democratic convention: Obama accepts nomination Democratic convention: Obama lays out election choice
(35 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has accepted the nomination of the Democratic party, and delivered a speech saying voters face the "choice of a generation".  
He laid out goals for the US, and told voters: "You didn't elect me to tell you what you wanted to hear. You elected me to tell you the truth." US President Barack Obama has accepted the nomination of the Democratic party, telling voters they face a generational choice in November's election.
Republican Mitt Romney challenges Mr Obama for the White House in November. He highlighted the differences between his aims and Republican policies, and reprised his 2008 theme of "hope".
Opinion polls show the two contenders neck-and-neck. "I never said this journey would be easy, and I won't promise that now," Mr Obama told the Democratic convention.
Obama told delegates in the hall and voters watching at home that the nations problems have built up over "decades" and cannot be fixed in a flash. Republican Mitt Romney is challenging Mr Obama for the White House, with polls showing a tight race.
"I won't pretend the path I'm offering is quick or easy. I never have," he said. Mr Obama told delegates in the hall and voters watching at home that the nations problems have built up over "decades" and cannot be fixed in a flash.
#DNC2012 Now they are playing Bruce Springsteen's bitter, ironic "we take care of our own"@BBCNewsUS
44 minutes ago
    • #DNC2012 After a dull start Obama turned it around taking about hope - his hope in America and its people@BBCNewsUS
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    • #DNC2012 we leave no one behind@BBCNewsUS
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    • #DNC2012 If you share that hope with me I ask you for your vote @BBCNewsUS
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    • #DNC2012 Obama - I have never been more hopeful about America @BBCNewsUS
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    "But when you pick up that ballot to vote - you will face the clearest choice of any time in a generation."But 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," he said. "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," he said.
    Venue change
    Mr Obama took the stage not in a huge stadium in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, as organisers had hoped, but inside the convention centre after Thursday's speech was moved because of weather concerns.
    He followed a rousing speech by Vice-President Joe Biden, who praised Mr Obama for his bravery in bailing our the auto industry and ordering the killing of Osama Bin Laden.
    The president offered a string of critiques of Republican policies, describing his opponents as "happy to talk about everything they think is wrong with America" without offering suggestions on how to make things right.
    "That's because all they have to offer is the same prescription they've had for the last thirty years," he said.
    "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!'"
    The speech prompted a response from Mr Romney's camp: "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," his campaign said in a statement after the speech.
    "He offered more promises, but he hasn't kept the promises he made four years ago."
    Mr Obama also spoke about his energy strategy, saying the US had opened "millions of new acres for oil and gas exploration... and we'll open more."
    "But unlike my opponent, I will not let oil companies write this country's energy plan, or endanger our coastlines, or collect another $4bn in corporate welfare from our taxpayers."
    On international issues, the president described Mr Romney and running-mate Paul Ryan as "new to foreign policy".
    "But from all that we've seen and heard, they want to take us back to an era of blustering and blundering that cost America so dearly," he said, highlighting his success with Bin Laden and his withdrawal of troops from Iraq and planned drawdown from Afghanistan.
    As Mr Obama finished the speech, he roused the crowd by telling them their votes had helped make the changes of his presidency.
    "Only you have the power to move us forward, " he said. "I recognise that times have changed since I first spoke to this convention. The times have changed - and so have I. I'm no longer just a candidate. I'm the president."
    Fired-up BidenFired-up Biden
    Vice-President Joe Biden took the stage shortly before Mr Obama to accept his own nomination. Earlier, Vice-President Biden accepted his own re-nomination in an emotional speech that focused on family and national security.
    In an emotional speech that focused on family and national security, he described Mr Obama's process of dealing with the country's crises. "Folks, I've watched him," he said of the president. "He never wavers. He steps up."
    "Folks, I've watched him. He never wavers. He steps up," Mr Biden said.
    "He asks the same thing over and over again: How is this going to work for ordinary families? Will it help them?""He asks the same thing over and over again: How is this going to work for ordinary families? Will it help them?"
    Mr Biden also criticised Mr Romney for not backing the US auto industry bailout, referring to the former Massachusetts governor's time leading private equity firm Bain Capital.Mr Biden also criticised Mr Romney for not backing the US auto industry bailout, referring to the former Massachusetts governor's time leading private equity firm Bain Capital.
    "I just don't think he understood what saving the automobile industry meant, to all of America. I think he saw it the Bain way, in terms of balance sheets and write-offs," he said."I just don't think he understood what saving the automobile industry meant, to all of America. I think he saw it the Bain way, in terms of balance sheets and write-offs," he said.
    "The Bain way may bring your firm the highest profit. But it's not the way to lead your country from its highest office.""The Bain way may bring your firm the highest profit. But it's not the way to lead your country from its highest office."
    The third and final night of speeches in Charlotte also saw former Florida governor Charlie Crist - who was previously a Republican - and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry address the convention.The third and final night of speeches in Charlotte also saw former Florida governor Charlie Crist - who was previously a Republican - and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry address the convention.
    Mr Kerry criticised the Mr Romney for surrounding himself with "neo-conservative advisors who know all the wrong things about foreign policy".Mr Kerry criticised the Mr Romney for surrounding himself with "neo-conservative advisors who know all the wrong things about foreign policy".
    "This is not the time to outsource the job of commander in chief," the Massachusetts senator said."This is not the time to outsource the job of commander in chief," the Massachusetts senator said.
    Former Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords, still recovering from a near-fatal shooting on a meeting with her constituents in 2011, appeared on stage to lead the convention in the pledge of allegiance.Former Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords, still recovering from a near-fatal shooting on a meeting with her constituents in 2011, appeared on stage to lead the convention in the pledge of allegiance.
    Walking slowly and steadying herself to recite the pledge, Ms Giffords brought left many in the crowd dewy-eyed as she smiled through her recital.Walking slowly and steadying herself to recite the pledge, Ms Giffords brought left many in the crowd dewy-eyed as she smiled through her recital.
    Mr Romney said at a campaign stop on Thursday he had not watched any of the convention's speeches so far, and was not planning to do so with Mr Obama's remarks.
    He told reporters that Mr Obama should focus on what he had done since the last election and not make new promises.
    Venue change
    Mr Obama took the stage not in a huge stadium as organisers had hoped, but inside the convention centre after Thursday's speech was moved, with party officials citing weather concerns.
    Republicans blamed the prospect of empty seats for the change of venue.
    "Our friends at the Republican convention were more than happy to talk about everything they think is wrong with America, but they didn't have much to say about how they'd make it right," Mr Obama said in his Charlotte speech.
    "That's because all they have to offer is the same prescription they've had for the last thirty years," he said. "'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!'"
    Mr Obama also spoke about his energy strategy, saying the US had opened "millions of new acres for oil and gas exploration... and we'll open more."
    "But unlike my opponent, I will not let oil companies write this country's energy plan, or endanger our coastlines, or collect another $4bn in corporate welfare from our taxpayers."
    The president then described Mr Romney and running-mate Paul Ryan as "new to foreign policy".
    "But from all that we've seen and heard, they want to take us back to an era of blustering and blundering that cost America so dearly," he said.
    On Wednesday, ex-President Bill Clinton told the convention the economic "mess" Mr Obama inherited from the Republicans needed more than four years to fix.
    Mr Clinton's 50-minute speech was strongly critical of Republican economic plans, while offering a staunch defence of Mr Obama, whose remedies he said were working.
    He said the Republican campaign argument is "pretty simple: 'We left him a total mess, he hasn't cleaned it up yet, so fire him and put us back in.'"