CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — President Barack Obama's decision Wednesday to scrap plans to accept his Democratic nomination before a massive crowd outdoors was as much about trying to mitigate political risk in a key battleground state as it was about public safety.

His party blamed severe weather forecasts in announcing that Obama would host the final night of his convention indoors instead of at a 74,000-seat football stadium. But Democrats also worried Obama's leadership would be questioned and he would anger voters in the closely contested state if changed venues at the last minute or held a rain-soaked event.

Republicans dismissed the Democrats explanation, arguing that Obama didn't have enough support to fill Bank of America Stadium in a state that he's struggling to win.