Republicans nominated Mitt Romney on Tuesday to challenge President Barack Obama for the White House, kicking off their storm-delayed convention with a barrage of sharp attacks on the president's economic leadership.
The formal nomination of Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, sets up an unpredictable two-month dash to the Nov. 6 election.
Opinion polls show Romney running even with or slightly behind Obama.
The convention's opening was pushed back a day by a storm threat, but Republicans wasted no time in condemning Obama's economic record and accusing him of failing to create enough new jobs or rein in the budget deficit.
"We can do better. We can do a lot better. It starts with throwing out the politician who doesn't get it, and electing a new president who does," House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said.
Republicans repeatedly accused Obama of being hostile to small business owners and smothering them with high taxes and excessive regulations.
In her address to the del-egates, wife Ann Romney praised Mitt as a problemsolver who can turn around the United States.
She said her husband has attacked every challenge he has faced - from reviving the struggling Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002 to helping her battle multiple sclerosis and breast cancer.
"At every turn in his life, this man I met at a high school dance has helped lift up others," said Romney, 63. "He did it with the Olympics, when many wanted to give up.
"This is the man who will work harder than anyone so that we can work a little less hard."
