Two different visions of America emerge from conventions

At Donald Trump's Republican convention, America was a nation spiraling into chaos and economic ruin.

"America needs every one of us to lend our energy, our talents, our ambition to making our nation better and stronger," Hillary Clinton said as she became the first woman to lead a major U.S. political party toward the White House.

Amid a turbulent summer at home and abroad, Clinton is accusing Trump of trying to scare voters into taking a chance on a political novice.

[...] it's a relief to Republicans who believe Clinton is unacceptably corrupt and who feared Trump's unorthodox candidacy might deprive them of an excellent chance to regain White House and cost them seats in the House and Senate.

Vincent Fort, a Georgia state senator who attended the Democratic convention, hoped Clinton gave voters reasons to be optimistic about her ability to tackle the nation's pressing problems.

[...] to Sam LeDoux, a 24-year-old Republican delegate from New Mexico, Trump's dour assessment of America more accurately reflects that "we're in a very dark time right now."

When President Barack Obama carried about 53 percent of the popular vote in 2008, his victory was seen as sweeping and decisive.

Clinton was backed by every corner of the Democratic establishment she's long been a part of, with rousing endorsements from the president and first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, her primary rival.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Trump's toughest primary opponent, did speak at the convention, but stubbornly refused to endorse the businessman in a stunning display of party disunity.