Obama to Press Plan to Revive Economy

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—President Barack Obama will take to the podium at the Democratic National Convention to try to reinvigorate an electorate that has grown weary and say they face the "clearest choice" in a generation.

Mr. Obama, according to excerpts released ahead of his speech, will say that in the coming years the country faces tough challenges on everything from energy policy to war. "But when all is said and done—when you pick up that ballot to vote—you will face the clearest choice of any time in a generation," he will say.

"I won't pretend the path I'm offering is quick or easy," Mr. Obama will say. He will call on the country to rally around a set of goals on manufacturing, education and his plan to grow the economy and remind people that despite the country's problems, the U.S. can overcome them.

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"Know this, America: Our problems can be solved. Our challenges can be met. The path we offer may be harder, but it leads to a better place," Mr. Obama will say.

His speech will book-end several days of rousing speeches from a variety of Democrats, including a personal one Tuesday from First Lady Michelle Obama that told of their moderate beginnings and a philosophical one from former President Bill Clinton.

Just hours before Mr. Obama takes the stage, his campaign released a video touting his accomplishments.

The five-minute video, which begins with Mr. Obama pacing backstage four years ago in Denver, has his 2008 speech playing in the background. "With profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for presidency of the United States," he is heard saying.

The video offers a window into what the president sees as his top accomplishments and what he might say Thursday night before a crowd of some 20,000 here and millions watching from home. Mr. Obama has been dogged by criticism that people are worse off than four years ago, and he will likely tout his record to try to persuade people that despite tough economic times he has made their lives better.

Among those giving warm-up speeches for the president Thursday night: Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, Vice President Joe Biden and actress Eva Longoria. Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will deliver the Pledge of Allegiance, a year after being shot by a gunman at a political event.

The first few speakers to take the stage defended the president over his signature legislative achievement, the health-care law, and attacked Mr. Romney.

WSJ's Jerry Seib sat down with New York Senator Chuck Schumer to talk about President Barack Obama's speech, the impact of former President Bill Clinton's speech, and the economic message of the Democratic and Republican conventions.

Carol Berman, an elderly woman, told of how she had trouble buying her prescription drugs until Mr. Obama's health-care law was passed. She said she's going to support the president because "like I tell my daughters, let's vote like our lives depend on it—because they do."

Rep. Barney Frank (D., Mass.) said he wished Mr. Romney had been the economic wizard he says he can be as president when he was governor of Massachusetts. Instead, he said, Massachusetts got "Myth Romney."

Mr. Barney, who is gay, focused his comments on economic issues but also said "Why are so many Republicans afraid that my marriage will threaten theirs?"

Ms. Longoria, appearing on NBC's "Today," said she's "been in the trenches" for Mr. Obama defending his record and promised her speech will be very different from Clint Eastwood's meandering remarks to the Republicans a week earlier.

"No empty chairs," she promised, referring to Mr. Eastwood's conversation with an empty chair representing Mr. Obama.

Others adding to the celebrity quotient in Thursday's lineup were performers James Taylor, Marc Anthony, Mary J. Blige and the Foo Fighters. Actresses Scarlett Johansson and Kerry Washington both had speaking slots.

The president's speech comes a day after Mr. Clinton gave a rousing defense of Mr. Obama and Democratic philosophies, promising to bring changes to an economic system they said was often stacked against the middle class.

The Democratic message on Wednesday came in two forms: A sharp attack on Republicans from Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren, and a broad argument from Mr. Clinton that Democratic-backed government programs had both helped Americans and produced prosperity.

Mr. Clinton, who remains one of the nation's most popular political figures, threw his weight behind Mr. Obama in a televised, prime-time speech that faulted Republicans for the stalemate in Washington.

"If you want a winner-take-all, you're-on-your-own society, you should support the Republican ticket," Mr. Clinton said. "If you want a country of shared opportunities and shared responsibility, a we're-all-in-this-together society, you should vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden."