Democratic convention: Obama lays out election choice

Barack Obama spoke of the challenges ahead in his closing speech at the Democratic National Convention

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US Presidential Election 2012

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• The inequality issue

US President Barack Obama has accepted the nomination of the Democratic party, telling voters they face a generational choice in November's election.

He highlighted the differences between his aims and Republican policies, and reprised his 2008 theme of "hope".

"I never said this journey would be easy, and I won't promise that now," Mr Obama told the Democratic convention.

Republican Mitt Romney is challenging Mr Obama for the White House, with polls showing a tight race.

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.

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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”

Barack ObamaUS President

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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.

"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.