Michelle Obama makes personal pitch to America

MICHELLE Obama helped launch her husband’s bid for re-election in a speech at the Democrats’ national convention today, drawing a clear contrast with his challenger Mitt Romney without mentioning the Republican’s name.

• Democrats launch President Barack Obama on his bid for re-election as they open national convention

• Michelle Obama makes personal appeal to Americans

The nationally televised, three-day convention puts Democrats in the spotlight, allowing them to depict Mr Obama as a courageous, compassionate leader who has put the United States on the right track after inheriting a brutal recession.

They countered attacks made at last week’s Republican convention and cast rival Mr Romney, a wealthy businessman and former Massachusetts governor, as distant, privileged and out-of-touch with ordinary Americans.

The First Lady talked about her husband’s more humble background as a young man who drove a rusty car and wore dress shoes that were a size too small.

She painted a portrait of a leader who knows first-hand the struggles of everyday Americans, who listens to them as president, and who pushes an agenda with their interests in mind.

“That’s the man I see in those quiet moments late at night, hunched over his desk, poring over the letters people have sent him,” she said.

“I see the concern in his eyes ... and I hear the determination in his voice as he tells me, ‘You won’t believe what these folks are going through, Michelle. it’s not right. We’ve got to keep working to fix this. We’ve got so much more to do’.”

Polls show Mr Obama and Mr Romney locked in a tight race ahead of the November vote.

Mr Romney is seen as the better candidate for improving the economy, the biggest issue in the race. But Mr Obama is seen as more likeable and better able to connect with the concerns of middle-class Americans.

Candidates traditionally get a bounce in the polls from political conventions, though there is little sign that Mr Romney improved his standing after the Republican convention in Tampa, Florida.

Once dramatic events for selecting candidates and debating issues, political conventions are now carefully scripted shows put on by the parties with little spontaneity - making them less compelling television programming.

The other major speaker during prime television time was San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, who delivered the high-profile keynote address.

A rising star in the party, Mr Castro is of Mexican-American descent and his selection highlights the importance given to Hispanic voters in the race.

Mr Castro said Mr Obama “knows better than anyone there’s more hard work to do”.

He said the United States is making progress “despite incredible odds and united Republican opposition”.

He said Republican economic theories have been tested and failed. “Mitt Romney just doesn’t get it,” he said.

Many speakers denounced Mr Romney. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid repeated attacks about Mr Romney’s refusal to release years of past federal income tax returns.

“Never in modern American history has a presidential candidate tried so hard to hide himself from the people he hopes to serve,” he said.