CHARLOTTE — Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy told delegates at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday that the fiscal approach of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and running mate Paul Ryan would “shred the safety net that protects the middle class and those striving to be in the middle class.”

Malloy said Romney and Ryan support harsh cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and education to give tax cuts to the wealthy and continue billions of dollars in subsidies for oil companies.

“We Democrats have nothing against people who’ve earned their wealth. We salute their hard work and good fortune. But slashing what we invest in schools, in roads, in research and development, in clean energy, and in the things that protect our most vulnerable just to cut taxes for those at the top is ridiculous - it’s wrong,” Malloy said.

He said President Barack Obama and Democratic governors also seek to make government leaner, cheaper, and more effective, while investing in good schools, affordable health care, medical research, clean energy, modern roads and high-speed trains, which he said “will strengthen and grow the middle class.”

He also said Obama has helped create 4.5 million private sector jobs, adding, “Mitt Romney says he’ll create jobs, but in what country where he has money on deposit will that actually be done?”

Malloy criticized Republicans for voting laws they have supported in several states he said are an attempt to disenfranchise minority and elderly voters.

He also slammed the GOP’s platform opposing abortion without exceptions and the party’s opposition to same-sex marriage, which is legal in Connecticut.

Malloy, who took office last year, is the first Democrat to be Connecticut’s governor since 1991.