Senator Barack Obama accepted the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday night with a speech many have described as workmanlike and practical rather than inspirational.
The presidential candidate clearly appealed to his party and to those who have already thrown their support behind the Illinois senator as he spelled out what "change" would look like, particularly for the average working-class American, and challenged Republican John McCain's judgment.
Many have praised Obama's speech, saying it left out flowery and poetic language and got his points across about what he will do for America and its people.
"America, we are better than these last eight years," Obama said at Invesco Field in Denver. "This moment - this election - is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive."
But not all are raving in praise.
Family Research Council president Tony Perkins criticised the Illinois senator for speaking about his many plans to change America, but with no details. Perkins also noted that Obama spent a significant portion of his speech criticising presumptive Republican nominee John McCain and President George W Bush.
"Barack Obama speaks somewhat poetically, but there is no substance," Perkins said in a Focus on the Family special radio broadcast. "And I thought he was tremendously lacking in substance and seemed, again, very defensive in the way he spoke. He defended his patriotism, constantly attacking John McCain."
While more than 80,000 applauded and cheered the Illinois senator from the football stadium, conservative voters were left dissatisfied.
Amid the "eight years is enough" talk and promises of change to health care, education, dependency on foreign oil, taxes and other issues important to working-class Americans, he hardly mentioned issues high on the priority list of conservatives - including abortion and marriage, values voters say.
