Weather Prompts Democratic Officials to Move Obama Speech Indoors

For all the attention that Republicans got for having to adapt their convention schedule due to a potential hurricane, a forecast for simple thunderstorms is causing an equally big, or perhaps even bigger, logistical headache for officials responsible for the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. Planners have decided to move President Barack Obama’s Thursday night speech indoors, from Bank of America Stadium to the smaller, covered Time Warner Cable Arena. More than 65,000 people had signed up for tickets to watch Obama accept his party’s nomination for president at the outdoor stadium, but the arena will accommodate only 15,000. Officials said the president will speak to those who are unable to attend on a national conference call on Thursday afternoon, and the campaign will work to make sure they will be have a chance to see Obama between now and Election Day. Republicans were quick to accuse Democrats of using the weather as an excuse for moving to a smaller venue, following reports that campaign officials were having trouble filling the stadium. npr.org