Is Barack Obama's popularity fading?

First HotAir report that:

'Never mind ponying up $3 for a chance at “dinner with Barack.” How would you like a free bus ride to Bank of America Stadium to watch the president make his second nomination acceptance speech on Thursday? The Democratic National Committee would be only too happy to accommodate you. Make that eager to accommodate you. Check that: desperate to accommodate you. FOX News reports that college students and members of predominantly black churches from all across the Carolinas are being shuttled to Charlotte by the busload in the hopes of having enough warm bodies to fill the stadium’s 73,778 seats...'

Meanwhile The Washington Times reports the possibly symbolic news that:

' A torrential downpour that struck Charlotte on Saturday afternoon damaged the Mount Rushmore-style sand sculpture bust of President Obama — an ominous beginning to what many fear is a plagued convention. Workers were trying Saturday afternoon to reform the base of the sculpture, built from sand brought in from Myrtle Beach, S.C., pounding and smoothing out the sand that had washed off the facade of the waist-up rendering of the chief executive. The sand sculpture was protected from above, and Mr. Obama’s face didn’t see too much damage. But the storm was so strong that its heavy winds blew the rain sideways, pelting the president’s right side and leaving the sand pockmarked and completely erasing his right elbow.'