CHARLOTTE, N.C. San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro stepped into the national spotlight at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night with a soaring speech that evoked the struggles of his Mexican immigrant ancestors and how they paved the way for his success.

"The American Dream is not a sprint, or even a marathon, but a relay," Castro told the cheering convention delegates.

Castro said his family's personal story highlights the choices Americans face in the election: Americans can chose President Barack Obama's policies, which he said invest in future generations, or chose his Republican rival's plan that he said helps the wealthy few.

And Castro brought the yelling delegates to their feet when he declared: "With the opportunity we build today for a shared prosperity tomorrow, America will prevail."

Castro spoke for 20 minutes as the showcase orator at Time Warner Cable Arena. Texas delegates shoehorned into the back of the arena stomped and waved blue and red placards during his speech.

Comparisons to Obama

Castro, 37, became the first Latino to give the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention, a fact that underscores the importance of Hispanics to Obama in the Nov. 6 election.

The selection of Castro to keynote the convention also drew comparisons to Obama, whose "audacity of hope" speech at the Democrats' 2004 convention in Boston helped propel him to the U.S. Senate and later the presidency.

Castro spoke of humble beginnings and public assistance to achieve his dream - to be the mayor of San Antonio, the city of his birth.

Castro was introduced to the convention by his twin brother, Joaquin, placing them together on a national stage during prime-time television for the first time.

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Castro shares personal story during historic DNC keynote