It's Official: Obama Will Give Convention Speech At Stadium

Obama will accept the Democratic nomination at Denver's Invesco field -- which can hold over 75,000.

"The Democratic Party is nominating a true change candidate this August, and it is only fitting that we make some big changes in how we put on the Convention," DNC Chairman Howard Dean says. "By bringing the last night of the Convention out to the people, we will be able to showcase Barack Obama's positive, people-centered vision for our country in a big way."

"Barack Obama's campaign for change has inspired millions of Americans and brought people into the political process who might never have been involved," said Convention Co-Chair Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius. "This change in the Convention program will allow thousands of first-time participants a chance to take part. I can't think of a better Convention finale for our nominee who has made reaching out to voters a hallmark of his campaign."

"Senator Obama and the DNCC have truly brought the community into the Convention," said Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. "This decision will enable thousands of residents from Colorado, the Rocky Mountain West and across the nation to witness history first hand. What a way to fire up our grassroots activists as we head into the fall campaign."

Rumors of the switch surfaced on Thursday.

The move from the Pepsi Center convention hall means "accepting the party's designation, historic as it may be, will not be the central focus of his remarks," The Nation says. "Rather, Obama will be putting the convention -- and the Democratic party -- behind him as he launches . . . outreach to Americans who don't usually vote and Americans who don't usually vote Democratic."

Comments

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Meanwhile McShrub looks to keep pace by giving his convention speech in the Dunder Mifflin breakroom.

[Egalitare]

ROTFLMAO! Priceless!!!!

[patmancando]

So if you can be so arrogant..­........yo­u must not know that 0 leads McCain by only 3% and there is a 3% margin of error and 10% undecided.

[JCTaylor]

So have they also announced the route of the torchlight parade?

[Thron]

Yes, without you

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Don't worry, it will not be coming anywhere near the darkness you cloak yourself in. Remember to keep plenty of duct tape handy.

[3Gs]

He rocks so good. I soooo wish I could go. It's just not fair.

[Mercurial]

I wanna go to. But I'm in VA so its highly unlikely.

[4wehttam]

Yeah I'm in PA and I can't afford to go all the way out there, but I think it's fantastic that more people have the opportunity to experience history up close and personal. I'm definitely going to record and save it for my two year old son so he can watch it when he's old enough.

Monica Hussein O.

[patmancando]

Hey guys, if your $5 is one of the lucky four, ask if they will pay your way. They should because those $5 add up fast, and some might donate even more. I think they could pay four people's expenses and still come out way ahead.

[Bademus]

McCain rented a stadium too, but he had to change venue because only 750 people wanted a ticket.

[RatgurlSD]

*snicker*

[sillyseason]

ROTFLMAO..­. Now that's funny, Bademus

[MemphisBuffalo]

McSame will give speach in Holiday Inn conference room.

[Thron]

McCain for president of the Stadium

[thegreatgiginthesky]

I'd vote for him as janitor. President of the stadium is too much for the old boy.

[Mercurial]

I am glad that he is doing this. I went to a rally and a bunch of people had to listen outside in the hot sun because they couldn't get tickets. That bothers me. This way, whoever wants to go, can go. Thats as it should be. No one should ever be turned away.

[MrPragmatic]

Oh brother. You mean folks got turned away and they had to stand in the hot sun? Gee whiz, there are people starving in the world. There are real problems in the world. And not getting to see BO speak at a lousy political convention is not one of them. How old are you anyway?

[Mercurial]

Yes there are starving people in the world and I hope you think of that when you chow down later rather than attacking me just because you don't like Obama. And by the way, are you or any members of your family overweight? Even a little bit. How can you stand yourselves with other people starving in the world? Do you practice what you preach I wonder? I'm sure you're quite the saint. I can tell from your comment.

[doctorwang]

There are people starving. There are real problems in the world. And Obama represents hope for many that these problems may actually begin to get resolved. Surely you don't begrudge those who have such hope the opportunity to express themselves?

BTW, perhaps instead of knocking everyone on this thread who's excited about Obama, you could put your time to better use and work to end world hunger. Just a thought...­.

[Mercurial]

And how old are you? Using terms such as oh brother and gee whiz....yo­u sould like a grumpy old fart.

[Chillinout]

There isn't a stadium or any other venue in this country big enough to hold everyone that would like to be there. Even being able to seat 75,000, there are still going to be people standing around outside of Invesco Field.

[patmancando]

U of Michigan holds 110, 000 but I doubt if the gov. would allow it since 0baminations booed her at the last event in Michigan, you know the one where Gore came out. And then too, there are plenty of voters in Michigan that are still angry their votes weren't counted or if they were, they were given to someone they didn't vote for.

[Vantunow]

As diehard BO supporter, I have dreamt of such great rally myself.

HOWEVER, I do fear that there may be risk of creating too big an spectacle, and causing voters to think that all of this is just a show.

The enormity of the spectacle could end up overshadowing the substance of the message.

It also could become a little scary for some to handle. All mobs are scary.

Why bother with such show?

All BO has to do rest of the way is to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING and he would win. Go take a vacation and he would still win.

Why over-do everything when nothing really needs to be done?

Hope it works out, but my POKER SENSE is telling me this is a mistake.

[4wehttam]

I have to respectfully disagree. I think this history making experience has to be shared with as many people as possible. As long as Barack does what he's done before....­.........h­e makes US, WE, TOGETHERNESS, TEAMWORK, and UNITY his main focus...it won't play as too showy. INCLUSIVENESS is one of the things the republicans lack, so Barack has to be the one to pinpoint that his presidency is for ALL of us and not SOME of us. Rich/poor, black/white, religious/not, educated/not, young/old.­..........­......etc.

[SeriousBlack]

I'm the biggest O supporter there is and I'm a little worried about this. I'm not so sure it's a good idea... I guess we'll see.

[Quotidien]

I'm sure they'll be conducting cavity searches for this one

[patmancando]

Why? How much do you weigh?

[morticia]

I agree, it`s a bit of a crap shoot, but if anyone can pull it off, he can.

[closetodemfection]

I'm an HRC supporter (that will vote for them dem nominee). But I too worry this will backfire on the voting blocks he needs to attract.

They respond to an underdog.
They respond to humbleness.
They respond to a politician who could be one of them.

O in a stadium will convey none of these things... I think just the setting might turn people off to his speech.

[BillForObama]

The convention is in August and the costs of voting Republican or not voting at all is too costly.

After the nomination acceptance speech is delivered, the hard work begins -- delivering the vote in November. THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE CONCENTRATING ON -- not where Senator Obama gives his speech.

We fight over such TRIFLING things!!!

AdvantageObama 08!!!

[Vantunow]

You verbalized my concerns perfectly.

[doctorwang]

"They respond to an underdog.
They respond to humbleness.
They respond to a politician who could be one of them."

No wonder Hillary lost the primary!

[RatgurlSD]

It bothers me that you view his speech as a "show." Obama has convinced an unforeseen number of people to get involved. He's INSPIRED so many, they just all want to have a little piece of history to put in their pocket (so to speak).

And I disagree that he doesn't need to continue to work... YOU may be convinced, but there are still some stubborn people out there that need some gentle persuasion that Obama has the better vision for the direction America should head in right now.

[Quotidien]

If the Broncos have a winning record by November 4th, then Obama will win the Presidency.

[ProfessorDuh]

And on Fox News, we will have a series of specials and comments on the fact that Hitler also spoke in stadiums. Fox, the Fourth Estate's Fifth Column, marches on.

[Bluejay00234]

Yep.

[Thron]

Double yep

[thegreatgiginthesky]

The remedy for that is easy. Hit the mute button and watch Faux.

[HoracePManure]

these moderators need to learn to read faster

[EdwardTx]

Notwithstanding comments of dubious motivation, e.g., "uppity, " there is something about this that disturbs me. I think because it plays into the hands of those who say the Obama campaign is a cult of personality. How many substantive political speeches have been delivered in a stadium of that size? Or maybe it's security concerns that trouble me. I don't know. I just don't think it's a good idea.

[Donnat]

I think it scares the pants off of the GOP plus it makes them look like excluders (which they are). I say go for it. If you were to give a speech and found out that 50,000 more folks wanted to attend than you had room for, wouldn't you consider moving it to a larger venue?

[obama4america]

Acceptance speeches are never substantive. As a matter of fact, few speeches are substantive. The State of the Union is the only one that comes to mind.

[Tomlastliberalleft]

Sorry Edward, I have sat through too many of these conventions to want the thing to always end with ballons and crazy delegates with equally silly hats on. No, this election is about the voters, not the party hacks. This is a great idea and will be remembered for generations to come. The Republicans would do the same thing but the idea of a football stadium full of walkers, wheelchairs and oxygen tanks would not evoke the desired response.

[RatgurlSD]

IF they could get the people with that mindset to the same stadium in such droves....

[thegreatgiginthesky]

So people getting together to support an individual is equal to a cult? How? He isn't brain washing anyone. He outlines his plan and a lot of people identify with him. Not to mention they are drawn by the story of his life. People want to believe that the America that made Obama who he is today still exists.

[patmancando]

Being an empty slate, you can draw it as you want to see it. But underneath all that pomp and circumstance there are no qualifications for the toughest job in the world.....­........ In these perilous times--in this the extreme urgency of now, we need someone who can restore our economy and our respect around the world.....­......he isn't the one. Even though he says "we are the ones we have been waiting for" sounds romantic..­.....this "we" turns into "I am the one", because it is only one POTUS, and this one is an empty suit.

[DRaymond]

"How many substantive political speeches have been delivered in a stadium of that size?"

Forty five years earlier (to the day) Martin Luther King Jr gave his "I have a dream" speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial to a crowd estimated to be 200,000 (by police).

Does that count as a substantive political speech?

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Naw, remember only evil people give speeches in front of huge crowds. Good people tune in on their TV's.

[HoracePManure]

Don't worry - John McCain will move his acceptance speech to a local VFW.

Just you wait and see.

[3Gs]

Yeah, a real step up from his Wife's cousin's friend's living room.

[morticia]

you mean the rodeo, that`s where she came from!

[yallerdog]

Look it up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_disease

[BillForObama]

How do you man?

[Thron]

I want to give a life to an Obama-hate­r...Mmmm! Is this even possible? I guess NO!