Democrats Pick Charlotte for 2012 Convention
Updated 3:35 p.m. Eastern Time
First Lady Michelle Obama announced Tuesday that the 2012 Democratic National Convention will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Charlotte won the convention over three other finalists: St. Louis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Cleveland.
"All the contending cities were places that Barack and I have grown to know and love, so it was a hard choice," the first lady said in an email to Organizing For America supporters. "But we are thrilled to be bringing the convention to Charlotte."
Mr. Obama won the Tar Heel State by a tiny margin in 2008; the state's voters had previously chosen the Republican candidate in every presidential contest dating back to 1976. Democrats are hoping that bringing the convention to Charlotte will help keep the traditionally-red state in the president's column. Mr. Obama won Colorado in 2008 after Democrats held their convention in Denver, the first time the state had gone to a Democrat since 1992.
In her email, Michelle Obama said the convention will be "The People's Convention" and cast Charlotte as emblematic of efforts to tie it to the Democratic grassroots.She said the convention would be financed differently than in the past but did not provide details.
"Charlotte is a city marked by its southern charm, warm hospitality, and an 'up by the bootstraps' mentality that has propelled the city forward as one of the fastest-growing in the South," she wrote. "Vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunity, the Queen City is home to innovative, hardworking folks with big hearts and open minds. And of course, great barbecue."
She also noted that she and her husband campaigned in North Carolina extensively during the 2008 campaign cycle and that one of the presidential debates was held there.
The Democratic convention will be held during the week of September 3rd, 2012.
Republicans are holding their convention in Tampa, Florida, during the week of August 27th, 2012. They hope the convention will help them take the key swing state, which Mr. Obama won in 2008.
The Democrats' choice of Charlotte -- as opposed to St. Louis -- is an important one for Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, who faces a potentially tough re-election bid in 2012.
"On the one hand, a convention would have brought a much needed economic stimulus to St. Louis," said CBS News senior political producer Rob Hendin. "But she's going to have to run as a moderate Democrat, and having Democrats renominating President Obama in her backyard could have presented problems for her."
"McCaskill will have to tack to the middle and look for some separation from the White House to keep her re-election chances alive," he added. "Having the White House party in Missouri would have made that effort much harder."
McCaskill said Tuesday she was "bitterly disappointed" by the decision, but she has reportedly taken concerns about the convention being in St. Louis to the White House.