Obama to offer Americans a more realistic message

Texas delegates display a cardboard likeness of U.S. President Barack Obama during the final session of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina September 6, 2012. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will offer Americans a more realistic follow-up to his 2008 "hope and change" message on Thursday when he asks for four more years in office and calls for patience in bringing back strong economic growth.

"The truth is, it will take more than a few years for us to solve challenges that have built up over decades," Obama will say in his speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination, according to speech excerpts.