There was speculation yesterday that the Democratic National Convention Committee would move the highly anticipated speech by President Obama to a smaller, indoor arena as “weather concerns” were being cited by officials as the reason. But Republicans and even some foreign media sources, such as the UK’s Daily Mail wondered if the event was rumored to be moved to a smaller arena because it would embarrass the party if the Commander-in-Chief could not fill the initial 74,000 seat Bank of America stadium.
As of this morning according to a DNCC press release, the event scheduled for tomorrow evening was officially moved indoors and as expected, “severe weather forecasts” was cited as the reason for the change of venue. This is a move from an outdoor 74,000 seat stadium to the indoor Time Warner Cable arena which seats only 20,000.
However, a quick look on weather.com sponsored by The Weather Channel shows that there is only a 40 percent chance of afternoon rain with thunderstorms possible in Charlotte, NC on Thursday, which would occur hours before the president’s scheduled speech.
With reports released yesterday that college students and church members would be bussed into the stadium to help fill the 74,000 seats, the calls of “astroturf” turnout and lack of enthusiasm, coupled with the DNC’s curious “weather” decision might cause quite a few more raised eyebrows.