WASHINGTON  --  Democrats approved a party platform at their national convention Tuesday that echoes President Barack Obama's call for higher taxes on wealthier Americans while backing same-sex marriage and abortion rights.

Delegates voted Tuesday to adopt the platform, which reflects the president's argument that his work is unfinished and he deserves another four years to complete the job.

"Today, our economy is growing again, al-Qaeda is weaker than at any point since 9/11, and our manufacturing sector is growing for the first time in more than a decade. But there is more we need to do, and so we come together again to continue what we started," the platform said.

The platform also departs from the 2008 platform on the subject of Israel, omitting a statement recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The document is a sharp contrast from the Republican blueprint that the GOP adopted at its convention last week. The Republican plan would ban abortion and gay marriage, repeal Obama's health care overhaul law and shift Medicare into a voucher-style program. It also recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Democrats acknowledged that divergent views.

"This election is not simply a choice between two candidates or two political parties, but between two fundamentally different paths for our country and our families," the Democrats said.

DONNA CASSATA
Associated Press

The Associated Press