President Obama Asks For 2nd Term, Says America's Problems 'Can Be Solved'
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CBSNewYork) -- President Barack Obama outlined his goals for a second term Thursday night and challenged Americans to take the tough road.
The president stood center stage at the Democratic National Convention and made his case for four more years in office.
It has been a tough four years for Obama, and in asking for another term, he made it clear the country was going to have to buckle its collective seat belts for another round of tough times if things are to be fixed, CBS 2's Marcia Kramer reported.
WATCH: Full Video Of President Obama's Speech
"I won't pretend the path I'm offering is quick or easy. I never have. You didn't elect me to tell you what you wanted to hear. You elected me to tell you the truth," Obama said.
READ: Full Text Of Obama's Address To The DNC
Obama wants another chance, but didn't sugarcoat the challenges the country faces and how difficult it will be to fix the economy and right the ship.
"It will take more than a few years for us to solve challenges that have built up over decades. It will require common effort, shared responsibility and the kind of bold persistent experimentation that Franklin Roosevelt pursued during the only crisis worse than this," Obama said.
On a night filled with glittering stars like Mary J. Blige, Scarlett Johansson, Marc Anthony, James Taylor, Caroline Kennedy and Eva Longoria, President Obama was utterly somber -- setting serious goals for the country's future:
- Creating a million new manufacturing jobs
- Doubling exports within two years
- Slashing oil imports in half by 2020
- Bringing the troops home and investing in the economy with the money no longer being spending on war
- Reducing the deficit by over $4 trillion by 2022
The president made it clear he didn't want to fix the economy by creating more government programs or Washington bailouts.
"But know this America, our problems can be solved, our challenges can be met. The pact we offer may be harder, but at least to a better place and I'm asking you to choose the future," Obama said.
Finally the president admitted his goals are different from Republican nominee Mitt Romney's goals and that voters will have to choose.
"On every issue, the choice you make won't be just between two candidates from two parties. It will be a choice between two different paths for America -- a choice between two fundamentally different visions of the future," Obama said.
With the both conventions over, the race for the White House is officially on. The presidential debates will begin in four weeks.
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