Fwd: Talking Points and Q&A: Moving Thursday’s Proceedings to the Time Warner Cable Arena
Jennifer Larus
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: Kristie Greco <KGr...@demconvention.com>
Date: September 5, 2012 11:21:51 AM EDT
To: AllStaff_D <AllSt...@demconvention.com>
Subject: Talking Points and Q&A: Moving Thursday’s Proceedings to the Time Warner Cable Arena
Talking Points and Q&A: Moving Thursday’s Proceedings to the Time Warner Cable Arena
Talking Points
· This is first and foremost a public safety decision. Our concern has always been the safety of our supporters, our volunteers and staff, and law enforcement and first responders.
· We have been monitoring weather forecasts closely and several reports predict severe thunderstorms in the area, therefore we made the difficult decision to move Thursday’s proceedings to Time Warner Cable Arena and ensure the safety and security of our delegates and convention guests.
· The energy and enthusiasm for our convention in Charlotte has been overwhelming. This Convention and campaign has always been about bringing more people into the process and we share the disappointment of more than 65,000 people who received and activated their community credentials – and the more than 19,000 people on waiting lists who signed up for 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 on television or through our innovative live stream coverage on demconvention.org.
· The President will speak to these community credential holders on a national conference call tomorrow afternoon. The campaign and the DNCC will work together to ensure that people unable to attend tomorrow’s event will be invited to see the President between now and Election Day.
Topline Q&A
Is this because you were concerned about not filling the stadium?
Not at all – this is a public safety decision, period. Our concern has always been the safety of our supporters, our volunteers and staff, and law enforcement and first responders. In addition to the 65,000 people who received and activated credentials to see the President speak, we had 19,000 people who signed up for credentials on waiting lists – there was no doubt that we were going to be able to fill the stadium.
You said it would happen “rain or shine.” Why is this different?
Rain is one thing – severe thunderstorms are something else. We aren’t willing to put the safety of our supporters, volunteers, staff, or law enforcement and first responders at risk.
Will the President and Vice President still do a walk through this evening?
Yes, we’re finalizing the time and will let you know when that is set.
What about the loss in production costs?
We knew there was a chance Mother Nature might not cooperate from the beginning, and we’ve always been prepared with a contingency plan.
Money isn’t important here. What’s important is the safety of our guests, the first responders and law enforcement officials working on this event and keeping people safe, and the other workers who would be working the stadium tomorrow night.
What happens to community credential holders?
Unfortunately, we will not have space to accommodate community credential holders at the arena. But we encourage everyone to set up watch parties with your friends, family and neighbors. Visit barackobama.com now to set yours up and invite friends.
The President will speak to community credential holders on a national conference call tomorrow afternoon. The campaign and the DNCC will work together to ensure that people unable to attend tomorrow’s event will be invited to see the President between now and Election Day.
What’s the capacity of Time Warner Cable Arena?
The Time Warner Cable Arena, with our configuration, will seat approximately 15,000 people tomorrow night.
Weather reports don’t seem so threatening.
This is a public safety issue of this highest concern since there are so many people involved – and with consistent forecasts of thunderstorms during our program, we aren’t willing to risk their safety.
According to Weather Underground, there’s a 30 to 40 percent likelihood of thunderstorms between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM. Accuweather forecasts thunderstorms at 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM. Weather.com forecasts a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms between 1:00 PM and 9:00 PM. WCNC says there’s a chance of thunderstorms at 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM, and News 14 predicts thunderstorms until 9:00 PM.
BACKGROUND Q & A FROM DNCC:
Q. How much money do we lose/save?
A. Money isn’t important here, what’s important is the safety of our guests, the first responders and law enforcement officials involved with working on this event and keeping people safe, and the other workers who would be working the stadium tomorrow night.
Q. What happens to community credential holders?
A. Unfortunately, we will not have space to accommodate community credential holders at the arena. But we encourage everyone to set up watch parties with your friends, family and neighbors. Visit barackobama.com now to set yours up and invite friends.
Q. Will we honor official stadium credentials for Thursday in the arena?
A. Yes – anyone who has a hard Official DNCC credential will be admitted to the arena.
Q. How does this impact operations?
A. We’ve been working on contingency plans since the beginning of our planning, and we’re ready to move forward with programming in the arena
Q. What city operations will change? Street closures? Lightrail/transit center change?
A. The street closures and transit changes that have been in effect the last couple of days will remain in effect on Thursday. The planned Thursday road closures around the stadium will not go into effect.
Q. How does this impact the campaign’s organizing?
A. This is an organizing tool for us. This is a decision that will undermine a capacity building opportunity because it was the right thing to do. And we are looking for contingencies for folks who had signed up for community credentials and will have more details on this later today. 6,000 people completed the 9-3-1 program in North Carolina, yielding tens of thousands of volunteer hours. And tens of thousands of people signed up at barackobama.com for community credentials, and already 4,000 watch parties are planned across the country. We’re ready for the final push into November and have the ground game in place that will take us over the finish line
Q. What time will proceedings begin?
A. Live programming will begin at 4:00 PM in the arena, as had been planned at the stadium.
Q. How will the program change?
A. As with other convention days, we may make adjustments to the schedule to accommodate our needs. Our programming team is working on examining our needs.
Q. Is there an alternate location to watch for community credentials holders?
A. We encourage people to set up watch parties at barackobama.com with their friends, families and neighbors
Q. I heard you were hosting a watch party at the convention center, is that true?
A. We have a previously planned watch party taking place, but unfortunately that event is at capacity.
# # #