There has been speculation for much of the week that the DNC would have to shift their convention site to a smaller venue for fear that the President Empty Chair would be on live television talking to a lot of … well … empty chairs.

Speculation has become reality now, as they are relocating the President’s speech from Bank of America Stadium to a much smaller Time Warner Cable Arena.

The capacity for BOA Stadium is roughly 65,000 people, whereas the new arena only seats about 20,000.

Of course, CBS dutifully bought the DNC’s reasoning for the change…

Democrats are significantly downsizing the final night of their national convention, moving the events — including President Obama’s acceptance speech — from Bank of America Stadium to the Time Warner Cable Arena because of threats of thunder and lightning.

Of course, as Ben White points out, there is only a 40% chance of afternoon showers in the Charlotte area, hardly a major threat of lightning storms, and certainly not cause for worry over 24 hours out.

The lightning is an awfully transparent excuse for moving Obama’s speech, perhaps the only transparent thing about the entire administration.  It was just yesterday that convention CEO Steve Kerrigan insisted the event would be held at Bank of America come “rain or shine”.
The real problem lies in that convention goers are few and far between, with officials resorting to giving tickets away all week in an attempt to fill vacant seats, including giving tickets to college Republicans!
There’s no way around this one.  Hope and change is gone.  The magic is gone.  And this November, Obama will be gone as well.