CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Democratic officials say they're moving President Barack Obama's convention speech indoors tomorrow night because of the possibility of severe weather.
Obama had planned to accept his party's nomination in an outdoor stadium before a crowd of up to 74,000 people. But officials say forecasters are predicting severe thunderstorms between 9 and 10 p.m. tomorrow, raising concerns about the safety of the crowd.
So, the entire program is being moved indoors, including Vice President Joe Biden's speech. The events will be held in the area that is the site of the first two days of the convention.
Republicans -- who canceled the first day of their own convention because of severe weather approaching Tampa, Fla., are suggesting there's another reason behind the decision.
A Republican National Committee spokeswoman wonders if there were "problems filling the seats" at the big outdoor stadium.
But Democrats say more than 65,000 people signed up for credentials to attend the speech -- and that those people now cannot be accommodated because of the smaller venue.
Delegate Jan Bauer of Iowa says she's thrilled about the move indoors -- because "it's not very comfortable sitting in the rain."
%@AP Links
186-c-21-(Jerry Bodlander, AP correspondent)-"20 thousand people"-AP correspondent Jerry Bodlandser reports the final night of the Democratic convention is being moved indoors. (5 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *186 (09/05/12)>> 00:21 "20 thousand people"
185-v-32-(Jerry Bodlander, AP correspondent)--The threat of bad weather is prompting a change of venue for the final night of the Democratic convention. AP correspondent Jerry Bodlander reports. (5 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *185 (09/05/12)>> 00:32
