Big Democratic convention news yesterday: Barack Obama will give his acceptance speech at the 75,000-seat Denver Broncos’ Invesco Field, rather than the measly 20,000-seat convention hall as originally planned. Obama’s campaign manager David Plouffe wrote in an email, “Barack will leave the convention hall and join more than 75,000 people for a huge, free, open-air event where he will deliver his acceptance speech to the American people. It’s going to be an amazing event, and Barack would like you to join him.” I’m quite honored, and so are many lefty bloggers who are excited about the venue change for this momentous occasion. Andrew Sullivan says it will be “quite a night.” And Daily Kos blogger blitz boy proclaims, “This is going to give Obama a huge bounce after the convention. 75,000 people packing a stadium to see a politician won’t go unnoticed.” Other bloggers are less enthused. NRO’s Jim Geraghty notes the upsides and downsides but ultimately concludes, “Potential for rain. Probably all kinds of logistics issues for the networks, needing two separate booths at the arena and the stadium, etc.” TNR’s Jonathan Cohn says, “Maybe they can put umbrellas in the packages of swag that conventioneers and media get.” And Marc Ambinder notes, “It’s going to cost the convention committee a lot of money to make the move, but Invesco Field can handle more than 75,000 spectators and will make a much better picture.” Aha, that’s it. As the Next Right’s Patrick Ruffini asks, “Could Obama’s desire for a final night worthy of the NFL, like his Presidential seal, go down as yet another example of his super-sized arrogance?”
