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| Obama's big convention speech moved indoors over bad weather fears | Obama's big convention speech moved indoors over bad weather fears |
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| Barack Obama's acceptance address to the Democratic national convention on Thursday night, designed to kickstart his bid for a second term in the White House, has been moved indoors from a football stadium, ostensibly over fears that thunderstorms and heavy rain would drown out his oratory. | Barack Obama's acceptance address to the Democratic national convention on Thursday night, designed to kickstart his bid for a second term in the White House, has been moved indoors from a football stadium, ostensibly over fears that thunderstorms and heavy rain would drown out his oratory. |
| The speech and rally — the highlight of this week's events in Charlotte — was meant to take place at the 73,000-seater Bank of America stadium, home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Although there were storms and torrential rain on the first two days of the convention, Democratic officials had insisted the event would go ahead as planned, "rain or shine". | The speech and rally — the highlight of this week's events in Charlotte — was meant to take place at the 73,000-seater Bank of America stadium, home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Although there were storms and torrential rain on the first two days of the convention, Democratic officials had insisted the event would go ahead as planned, "rain or shine". |
| But on Wednesday they announced that it would now be held at the nearby Time Warner Cable arena, which has a capacity of just 20,000, causing a logistical nightmare for Democratic organisers and handing Republican critics with a ready-made attack. Conservatives have been sniping all week that Obama would be unable to fill the 73,000 seats in the stadium – a claim that the Obama campaign has consistently denied. | But on Wednesday they announced that it would now be held at the nearby Time Warner Cable arena, which has a capacity of just 20,000, causing a logistical nightmare for Democratic organisers and handing Republican critics with a ready-made attack. Conservatives have been sniping all week that Obama would be unable to fill the 73,000 seats in the stadium – a claim that the Obama campaign has consistently denied. |
| In a statement, Steve Kerrigan, chief executive of the DNC organising commitee, said: "The energy and enthusiasm for our convention in Charlotte has been overwhelming, and we share the disappointment of over 65,000 people who signed up for community credentials to be there with the president in person. | In a statement, Steve Kerrigan, chief executive of the DNC organising commitee, said: "The energy and enthusiasm for our convention in Charlotte has been overwhelming, and we share the disappointment of over 65,000 people who signed up for community credentials to be there with the president in person. |
| "We encourage our community credential holders and Americans across the country to continue to come together with their friends and neighbors to watch and participate in history. The president will speak to these credential holders on a national conference call tomorrow afternoon, and we will work with the campaign to ensure that those unable to attend tomorrow's event will be invited to see the president between now and election day." | "We encourage our community credential holders and Americans across the country to continue to come together with their friends and neighbors to watch and participate in history. The president will speak to these credential holders on a national conference call tomorrow afternoon, and we will work with the campaign to ensure that those unable to attend tomorrow's event will be invited to see the president between now and election day." |
| Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican national committee, questioned the claim that the weather was behind the decision. "After promising to speak at Bank of America stadium rain or shine, Team Obama is moving inside. Troubles filling the seats?" he wrote on Twitter. | Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican national committee, questioned the claim that the weather was behind the decision. "After promising to speak at Bank of America stadium rain or shine, Team Obama is moving inside. Troubles filling the seats?" he wrote on Twitter. |
| Meteorologists were also sceptical, pointing out the chance of thunderstorms on Thursday evening was relatively low and not unusual for the region. | Meteorologists were also sceptical, pointing out the chance of thunderstorms on Thursday evening was relatively low and not unusual for the region. |
| Obama arrives in Charlotte on Wednesday before a keynote speech by Bill Clinton, a man with whom the president has had strained relations in the past but to whom Obama now looks for vital sustenance. | Obama arrives in Charlotte on Wednesday before a keynote speech by Bill Clinton, a man with whom the president has had strained relations in the past but to whom Obama now looks for vital sustenance. |
| Clinton will take the stage amid Democrats' hopes that some of his enduring popularity and the glow of economic prosperity over which he presided will rub off on his successor as Obama fights to stay in the Oval Office. | Clinton will take the stage amid Democrats' hopes that some of his enduring popularity and the glow of economic prosperity over which he presided will rub off on his successor as Obama fights to stay in the Oval Office. |
| He will make his seventh consecutive address to the DNC, sealing his standing as the pre-eminent Democratic politician of modern times. Clinton has been asked by Obama to place his name in nomination – the first former president to have the honour. | He will make his seventh consecutive address to the DNC, sealing his standing as the pre-eminent Democratic politician of modern times. Clinton has been asked by Obama to place his name in nomination – the first former president to have the honour. |
| Much will be riding on the occasion. Obama, weighed down by a flat-lining economy and a personal favourability rating that in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll is the lowest of any incumbent since the 1980s, needs a boost from some of Clinton's enviably high approval rating of 66%. | Much will be riding on the occasion. Obama, weighed down by a flat-lining economy and a personal favourability rating that in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll is the lowest of any incumbent since the 1980s, needs a boost from some of Clinton's enviably high approval rating of 66%. |
| Clinton's overall record of balanced budgets and relative economic well-being while in office – not to mention his comfortable 1996 re-election with a nine-point lead over Bob Dole – are seen as valuable weapons in Obama's bid to persuade the American electorate to give him a second chance. | Clinton's overall record of balanced budgets and relative economic well-being while in office – not to mention his comfortable 1996 re-election with a nine-point lead over Bob Dole – are seen as valuable weapons in Obama's bid to persuade the American electorate to give him a second chance. |
| Michelle Obama paved the way for Clinton by making an impassioned case for that second chance on the opening night of the convention on Tuesday. In a speech that mentioned Mitt Romney not even once, yet still managed between the lines to portray the Republican challenger as privileged and heartless, the first lady delighted the Democratic crowd. | Michelle Obama paved the way for Clinton by making an impassioned case for that second chance on the opening night of the convention on Tuesday. In a speech that mentioned Mitt Romney not even once, yet still managed between the lines to portray the Republican challenger as privileged and heartless, the first lady delighted the Democratic crowd. |
| She called herself the "mom-in-chief", and her husband a "man you can trust". "He reminds me that we are playing a long game here, and that change is hard, and change is slow and it never happens all at once." | She called herself the "mom-in-chief", and her husband a "man you can trust". "He reminds me that we are playing a long game here, and that change is hard, and change is slow and it never happens all at once." |
| Speaking at at black caucus meeting on Wednesday, the first lady issued a strong warning about the potentially dangerous impact of cash-rich individuals and groups in dictating the election outcome. | Speaking at at black caucus meeting on Wednesday, the first lady issued a strong warning about the potentially dangerous impact of cash-rich individuals and groups in dictating the election outcome. |
| Obama told the raucous crowd of a few hundred that there was more at stake in this election than just the candidates. The bigger issue – one that could determine the shape of American democracy for decades to come – was the role of the Super Pacs, she said. | Obama told the raucous crowd of a few hundred that there was more at stake in this election than just the candidates. The bigger issue – one that could determine the shape of American democracy for decades to come – was the role of the Super Pacs, she said. |
| She said: "We need to step back and ask ourselves: 'Do we want to give a few individuals a far bigger say in our democracy than anyone else?' Do we want our elections to be about who buys the most ads on TV? Do we want our kids and grandkids to walk away from the action feeling like ordinary hardworking voices can no longer be heard in this country, or are we going to show our kids that here in America we all have an equal voice in the voting booth, and we all have a say in this country's future?" | She said: "We need to step back and ask ourselves: 'Do we want to give a few individuals a far bigger say in our democracy than anyone else?' Do we want our elections to be about who buys the most ads on TV? Do we want our kids and grandkids to walk away from the action feeling like ordinary hardworking voices can no longer be heard in this country, or are we going to show our kids that here in America we all have an equal voice in the voting booth, and we all have a say in this country's future?" |
| Conservative Super Pacs have raised much bigger sums than their Democratic equivalents, and threaten to outspend Barack Obama two-to-one in support of Mitt Romney. | Conservative Super Pacs have raised much bigger sums than their Democratic equivalents, and threaten to outspend Barack Obama two-to-one in support of Mitt Romney. |
| Other headline speeches on Wednesday include Elizabeth Warren, the Harvard law school professor who is locked in a tough battle to take the Massachusetts senate seat from Republican Scott Brown, and Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles who is chair of the convention. | Other headline speeches on Wednesday include Elizabeth Warren, the Harvard law school professor who is locked in a tough battle to take the Massachusetts senate seat from Republican Scott Brown, and Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles who is chair of the convention. |
| Bill Clinton's address adds another page to the on-going story of his own extraordinary political career, as well as the at times troubled relationship he has had with Obama. During the 2008 primary race between Obama and Hillary Clinton, Bill attacked Obama's bid for the White House as "the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen". | Bill Clinton's address adds another page to the on-going story of his own extraordinary political career, as well as the at times troubled relationship he has had with Obama. During the 2008 primary race between Obama and Hillary Clinton, Bill attacked Obama's bid for the White House as "the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen". |
| The top billing Bill Clinton has been granted this year has also fueled speculation around his own wife. Hillary has indicated that she would not serve in a second Obama administration, prompting rumours that she has her eye on 2016. | The top billing Bill Clinton has been granted this year has also fueled speculation around his own wife. Hillary has indicated that she would not serve in a second Obama administration, prompting rumours that she has her eye on 2016. |
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