President Obama, greeted by tumultuous cheers of Democratic Party stalwarts, promised America a better future if voters agree to the follow the "harder" and "longer" path that he has mapped to restore the country's economy and the sense of hope and opportunity.
"America, I never this journey would be easy, and I won't promise that now," he said. "Yes, our path is harder, but it leads to a better place. Yes, our road is longer, but we travel it together."
The president took the podium after being affectionately introduced by his wife Michelle Obama who starred on the first night of the Democrats' convention in Charlotte, N.C.
Campaign volunteers were supposed to watch his campaign speech at the 75,000-seat Bank of America Stadium. That event was moved indoors to the much smaller convention center because of the threat of thunderstorms. About 65,000 volunteers weren't able to see the speech in person.
"The problem was a safety issue," Obama told volunteers earlier on a conference call. "I could not ask you, our volunteers, law enforcement, first responders, to subject themselves to risk of severe thunderstorms."
People were holding onto their passes anyway. Some were even making copies. Security officials were checking the passes for authenticity because a lucky few will be able to attend a watch party Thursday night in a convention center ballroom that holds 4,200 people. The rest will have to watch it at home.
"I will be here," said Simi Valley resident Jenni Ford. "I'm not mad. I'm just glad to be a part of it all."
The president said he would invite them to more events in North Carolina between now and Election Day.
Former President Bill Clinton brought the crowd to its feet in his speech Wednesday night in a rousing endorsement of President Obama. He officially nominated the president for a second term.
"I want to nominate a man who's cool on the outside, but who burns for America on the inside," said Clinton Wednesday night.
He defended the president's economic record over the last four years and attacked Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's ideas.
Clinton told the crowd Romney's ideas are a return to the policies that created the financial crisis. He argued that the president was handed a deeply damaged economy and needs to be given more time to get the country going again.
"President Obama started with a much weaker economy than I did. Listen to me now: No president, not me, not any of my predecessors, no one could have fully repaired all the damage that he found in just four years," said Clinton.
When Clinton finished, the president came out, the two embraced on stage and the crowd in Charlotte roared their approval Wednesday night.
ABC News contributed to this report.
