"We need change all right," Romney said, commenting on the theme for last week's Democratic National Convention in Denver, "change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington."

The prescription for change is to "throw out the big-government liberals and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin president and vice president," said Romney, who battled McCain to be the party standard-bearer during the Republican primaries.

McCain and Palin, set to accept the party's nomination, will reform the nation's tax code and educational system, help bring about energy independence, protect the United States from terrorists and preserve the family unit, Romney said.

"America cannot long lead the family of nations if we fail the family here at home," he said to thunderous applause.

"Liberals would replace opportunity with dependency on government largesse," he said. The time has come to fight dependence "like the poison that it is."

In a swipe at Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, Romney told the assembled party faithful, "Just like you ... there's never been a day when I was not proud to be an American."