Romney vows to “restore the promise” of America

“Mr Chairman and delegates, I accept your nomination for President to the United States.”

Mitt Romney accepted the Republican presidential nomination, vowing to lift the struggling US economy and “restore the promise of America”.

His speech marked the end of the three-day Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, and a highlight in his long quest for presidency.

During his speech, Mitt Romney pledged to make the US energy independent, cut the deficit, negotiate new free trade agreements and create 12 million jobs.

“President Obama promised to begin to slow the rise of the oceans and to heal the planet. My promise is to help you and your family,” he said.

He announced that America needs “jobs, lots of jobs” and promised to create 12 million of them in these hard economic times.

“Now is the time to restore the promise of America,” Romney declared to a nation struggling with 8.3 percent unemployment.

Barack Obama has failed to deliver on his promise of hope and change and it is time for new leadership in the White House, Mitt Romney told America, in the most critical speech in his presidential campaign.

With Obama and Romney neck and neck in the polls, the two will now battle it out over the next three months to win over the American public ahead of elections in November.

Mr Romney criticised Barack Obama’s occupancy as president, saying that change was needed to take America forward.

“I wish President Obama had succeeded because I want America to succeed. But his promises gave way to disappointment and division. This isn’t something we have to accept. Now is the moment when we can do something. With your help we will do something.”

Clint Eastwood, who opened for Romney, also garnered some attention as he began a post-conference conversation with an imaginary President Obama represented by an empty chair.

Obama got into the act, tweeting “This seat’s taken” to his 19 million followers as Twitter exploded with photos of empty chairs being posted.

The political spotlight will now shine brightly on President Barack Obama and the Democrats, who will be holding their convention next week in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Zanib Asghar

Watch the full speech here