READ: Excerpts of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's Remarks to the DNC

Below are key excerpts of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's address to the DNC in Charlotte, as prepared for delivery:

“Because more than any one candidate or policy, what's at stake is the American Dream. That Dream – the ability to imagine a better way for ourselves and our families, and then reach for it – is central to who we are and what we stand for as a nation.

“Whether that Dream endures for another generation depends on you and me. It depends on who leads us, too.

“In Massachusetts, we know Mitt Romney. By the time he left office, Massachusetts was

47th in the nation in job creation - during better economic times - and real wages in our state were declining.

“He cut education deeper than anywhere else in America. Roads and bridges were crumbling. Business taxes were up and business confidence was down.

“Mitt Romney talks a lot about all the things he's fixed. I can tell you that Massachusetts wasn't one of them.

“He's a fine fellow and a great salesman, but as governor he was more interested in having the job than doing it.

“When I came to office, we set out on a different course - investing in ourselves and our future. And today Massachusetts leads the nation in economic competitiveness; student achievement; health care coverage; life sciences and biotech; energy efficiency and veterans' services.”