Romney makes his case: 'Need jobs, lots of jobs'

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Mitt Romney launched his fall campaign for the White House night with a rousing, remarkably personal speech to the Republican National convention and a prime-time audience Thursday night, proclaiming that America needs "jobs, lots of jobs" and promising to create 12 million of them in perilous economic times.
 
   "Now is the time to restore the promise of America," Romney said to a nation struggling with 8.3 percent unemployment and the slowest economic recovery in decades.
 
   Often viewed as a distant politician, Romney made a press-the-flesh entrance into the hall, walking slowly down one of the convention aisles and shaking hands with dozens of delegates. The hall erupted in cheers when he reached the stage and waved to his cheering, chanting supporters before beginning to speak.
 
   "I accept your nomination for president," he said, to more cheers; then he pivoted into personal details of family life. He recounted his youth  as a Mormon, son of parents devoted to one another, then married man with five rambunctious sons.  
 
   He choked up at least twice, including when he recalled how he and wife Ann would awake to find "a pile of kids asleep in our room."