"Individual responsibility and mutual responsibility," the Illinois senator told delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, "that's the essence of America's promise."

Obama said he would stop giving tax breaks to corporations "that ship jobs overseas" and give them instead yo companies that create jobs in the United States.

He said he would eliminate capital gains for small businesses and the start-ups that create high-wage, high-tech jobs and would cut taxes for 95 percent of all working families.

Regarding energy, "in 10 years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East," he said. He said he'd invest $150 billion over the next decade in affordable, renewable energy sources of energy.

Obama said he would invest in "world-class" education because "it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy." But, he said, parents also must take responsibility for the raising of their children.

He pledged "affordable, accessible healthcare for every single American."

"And now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day's work, because I want my daughters to have exact same opportunities as your sons," he said.

Obama said he would "never hesitate to defend this nation," but would deploy troops with a clear mission and a commitment and provide the needed equipment and the "care and benefits they deserve when they come home."

He promised to end the war in Iraq responsibly and "finish the fight" against al-Qaida and Taliban in Afghanistan, as well as renew "tough, direct diplomacy" on nuclear weapons proliferation or aggression.