Obama Pledges to Preserve American Dream

"It is that promise that has always set this country apart - that through hard work and sacrifice, each of us can pursue our individual dreams but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams as well."

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said this in his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention at Invesco Field Thursday, saying he will reinvigorate the American dream through genuine change.

Making history as the first black presidential nominee of a major U.S. party, Obama criticized the eight years of the Bush administration, calling it a failure that resulted in the United State being under threat. The first-term Illinois senator blamed his Republican rival John McCain, saying McCain has agree with President Bush more than 90 percent of the time.

Addressing a massive crowd of some 84,000 at the football stadium, Obama said the presidential election is a chance to keep the American promise alive in the 21st century. He went into specifics about his policies for taxation, energy, education, and healthcare, all different from McCain`s.

Obama said he will the Iraq war responsibly and finish off al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, and that he will rebuild the military to meet future conflicts.

“But I will also renew the tough, direct diplomacy that can prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and curb Russian aggression. I will build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century: terrorism and nuclear proliferation; poverty and genocide; climate change and disease,” he said.

A new Gallup tracking poll showed that Obama led McCain 48 to 42 percent. Before the Democratic Convention began, a Gallup poll Sunday had the race in a dead heat at 45 percent.

The Republican National Convention will open next week in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, where McCain will become the party`s presidential nominee.

sechepa@donga.com