CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Some of the harshest attacks on Mitt Romney on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention came from the ranks of governors, including the one who succeeded him, who charged that Romney was “more interested in having the job than doing it.”

“In Massachusetts we know Mitt Romney,” Gov. Deval Patrick told the delegates. “[He] talks a lot about all the things he’s fixed. I can tell you that Massachusetts wasn’t one of them.”

From former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, the jabs were far more pointed. He upbraided the Republican nominee for his record in business, charging that if he were Santa Claus, he’d “fire the reindeer and outsource the elves.”

PHOTOS: 2012 Democratic National Convention


Strickland, a former minister, also attacked Romney for holding offshore bank accounts by quoting a scripture passage that reads, “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

“My friends, any man who aspires to be our president should keep both his treasure and his heart in the United States of America,” Strickland said.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Tally up the battleground states


The final blow came from Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who chairs the Democratic Governors Assn.

He led the crowd in a call and response, saying President Obama wanted to take the nation “Forward,” and “Not Back.” Signs passed throughout the crowd punctuated the message.

“Swiss bank accounts never put cops on the streets or teachers in our classrooms. Swiss bank accounts never created American jobs,” O’Malley said. “Gov. Romney, just because you bank against the United States of America doesn’t mean the rest of us are willing to sell her out.”


PHOTOS: Protests of the Democratic National Convention

michael.memoli@latimes.com

Twitter:@mikememoli