The Democratic National Committee has opted on Charlotte, N.C., as site of the 2012 convention. What's so special about Charlotte?
North Carolina is the least-unionized state in the U.S., which is part of why union leaders had been pleading against the decision. Specifically, Charlotte has zero union-organized hotels. It's convention center is also nonunion.
In Carter's re-election bid 32 years ago, this never would have happened. Even in Clinton's re-election bid 16 years ago, no. But, even though Obama's re-election is far, far from a slam dunk, he and the DNC are OK with telling unions they don't count too much.
Supposedly, Obama had his eye on North Carolina's larger black population. But, at 20 percent vs. 11 percent, it's not like Missouri is lily white. However, North Carolina also has about double the Hispanic population percentage of Missouri. Neither of the other finalists, Minneapolis or Cleveland, could offer as strong of Hispanic demographics, either.
Beyond the ethnic angles, it seems that Obama and the DNC think North Carolina as well as neighboring Virginia will be "in play" in 2012. I kind of doubt that.
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