Weather threats prompt move of Obama's Thursday speech

Charlotte, NC_President Obama's plan to deliver his Thursday Democratic National Convention speech to 80,000 people in an outdoor stadium has been dashed by threats of severe weather.

Instead, he will address convention-goers in the smaller arena where other events have been held.

The sudden change means that the 65,000 non-delegates who had been invited to attend the convention's highlight will not get a chance to witness it in person.

"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," said Democratic National Convention Committee CEO Steve Kerrigan.

The move, which loomed large throughout the convention's opening day, not only creates a logistical mess it also bars Democrats from repeating the mass event that marked the 2008 convention.

It also means weather hindered both Republicans, who shortened their convention by one day last week because of weather threats, and Democrats, who have to turn back thousands of disappointed fans, plans for their biggest events in four years.

Democrats were still giving away tickets as late as last week, prompting naysayers to theorize that the real reason the speech was moved is because Obama couldn't fill the 80,000 seat stadium.