And The Winner Is...Charlotte!

It's time to Break It Down!

Roughly nineteen months, or about five hundred eighty days; that’s how long Charlotte and its boosters have to prepare to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention, the week of September 3, 2012 (Labor Day Week). Tim Kaine, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman, and First Lady Michelle Obama made the announcement yesterday. Congratulations to Charlotte Mayor, Anthony Foxx and Duke Energy CEO, Jim Rogers, who Co-Chaired the City’s winning bid. The other three Finalists were Minneapolis, Cleveland, and St. Louis. Charlotte and St. Louis had been rumored to be the final pair for at least a couple of weeks.

There is a lot of excitement in and around the city, stemming from what is expected to be an economic boon to the community. Of course there are also detractors of the event. Some question the projected cost tag for putting on the event, which estimates have placed at $40 million. Most of that money will be raised privately, but you wouldn’t glean that if you read some of the feedback in the newspaper. You would also miss the projection that the Convention and related activities are expected to generate $150 million to $200 million in revenue.

Others have expressed more partisan concerns; it is after all a Political Party’s Convention, so there is a cadre of people who are naturally opposed to the convention, its prospective/eventual Nominees, and everything it stands for. That’s politics, American style.

In full disclosure, I should also add that as I read a few of the blogs and reader comments that follow lead stories in the local newspaper, I saw more than a few racially tinged zingers among the negative comments. It is way past time we stopped pretending that kind of thing no longer exits. No need to expand it beyond its rightful proportion, but, that brand of hatred and spitefulness still lives and thrives, and it does so in Charlotte.

Frankly, I view the decision as a huge win for the City and the community at large. For several days, the spotlight will shine on Charlotte, and that light will be not just regional, or even national, but global in its scope and focus. Journalists from around the world will flock to Charlotte to cover the Convention. The President and Vice President of the United States will be here, as will their wives and families. A myriad of other public officials will attend as 30,000 to 35,000 Delegates will conduct and execute the Party’s business, culminating with the Nomination Process, which is expected to result in choosing President Obama and Vice President Biden to seek re-election.

It is difficult to imagine Charlotte has ever had a single event that garnered more attention, nationally and internationally, than the Convention will. The round the clock media attention will elevate the City’s profile and stature, at least for the duration of the event. It is a unique opportunity for the Charlotte community to host and execute a truly World Class event. And, in the classic can-do spirit usually associated with the community, I expect “Our Town” will come through with flying colors.

Even though there will be inter-Party dissonance between now and the Convention, and the Convention is likely to ratchet up the noise to some degree, itself (The GOP Convention convenes in Tampa, August 27, 2012, a week earlier), several prominent local Republicans backed the initiative to bring the Convention to Charlotte. Jim Martin, a former Republican North Carolina Governor, and Richard Vinroot, a previous Charlotte Mayor, both promoted the Convention as good for the community.

They wrote in a Charlotte Observer opinion column, “We are proud Republicans. But we are also proud advocates of Charlotte and North Carolina, and believe that bringing the 2012 Democratic Convention to Charlotte represents an unprecedented economic development opportunity.”

In closing, no thorough discussion of the particulars surrounding the selection of Charlotte for the Convention could omit mention of the strategic impetus for the decision. The fact of the matter is President Obama won the State of North Carolina in 2008. He and Democratic leaders have made a calculated decision to compete for North Carolina and other Southern states in the 2012 Presidential Election. Ultimately, the President’s Southern Strategy factored heavily in the calculus that led the Committee to choose Charlotte. In other words, the votes are in, “And the Winner Is…Charlotte!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Democratic_National_Convention

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/02/01/2027540/charlotte-wins-2012-dem-convention.html

http://charlottein2012.com/2011/02/01/charlotte-to-host-2012-democratic-national-convention/

http://www.indyweek.com/citizen/archives/2011/02/01/its-charlotte-2012-democratic-national-convention-coming-to-nc

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/2011/02/reports-dnc-headed-to-charlotte.html

http://www2.independenttribune.com/news/2011/feb/01/charlotte-lands-2012-democratic-national-conventio-ar-744158/

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Mayor-relationship-with-President-helped-land-convention-115048139.html

http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/241642/3/Charlotte-lands-2012-DNC

http://my927charlotte.com/national/my927info/charlotte-lands-dnc-2012-convention

http://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/story/9037269/

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/02/democratic-national-convention-2012-to-be-held-in-charlotte-nc.html

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/48588.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Kaine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Foxx

http://www.duke-energy.com/about-us/leaders/jim-rogers.asp

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13950892

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama

http://www.zimbio.com/Malia+Obama/pictures/pro

http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/politics/sasha-obama-PECLB004381.topic

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Charlotte-to-host-2012-Democratic-National-Convention-115011824.html