Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gave something of a preview of his upcoming speech before the Republican National Convention by faulting President Obama’s handling of the economy and saying “decline is not our destiny.”

Romney fashioned his fundraising appeal as a kind of Republican creed. “We believe in America, even though President Obama’s failed policies have left us with record high unemployment, lower take-home pay, and the weakest economy since the Great Depression,” he said, in the most pointed jab at Obama of the email. “But we also believe that America can do better, because decline is not our destiny.”

Here’s the full Romney email:

In a few hours, I’ll take the podium before a Republican Party that has been united and inspired by a common conviction: We believe in America. We believe in America, even though the last four years have been full of difficulties and disappointments, doubt and despair. We believe in America, even though millions of American families are worried about their jobs, their mortgages, their children, and their future. We believe in America, even though President Obama’s failed policies have left us with record high unemployment, lower take-home pay, and the weakest economy since the Great Depression. But we also believe that America can do better, because decline is not our destiny. I commit to you that I will be the president this moment demands. I ask you to commit like never before — donate $20.12 to support Paul and me and the entire Republican team. It will be my privilege to stand at the podium to accept the nomination. And I will stand not just for every supporter, and not just for the Republican Party — I’ll stand for every American who believes our best days are ahead. Thank you, Mitt Romney