DNC

CNN and NBC News are reporting that Charlotte, North Carolina, will host the 2012 Democratic National Convention.  

UPDATE: Brian Wahby of the St. Louis City Democrats has issued a statement congratulating Charlotte.  

The news today from the Democratic National Committee announcing Charlotte as the site of the 2012 Convention was not what we all wanted to hear, but we offer sincere congratulations to Charlotte and look forward to being there in September of 2012.

Despite our disappointment, this nearly year-long effort to win the Convention was a useful exercise for our region. We proved that St. Louis should swing for the fences. Clearly, we have what it takes to do big things.  The significant investments we’ve made in ourselves and our city in the last quarter-century are part of what make us a great region. We have fantastic infrastructure, including light rail, world-class hotels and convention facilities. We have an ever more vibrant downtown, leading-edge institutions including Forest Park, City Museum, and of course the iconic Gateway Arch.  But none of these compare to our greatest asset – our people.  St. Louis’ convention effort attracted the most enthusiastic and vocal support from its people than any of our competing cities.  Thousands of you signed up to volunteer and thousands more joined our Facebook page.

Posted tonight by Politico: "With the site of the 2012 Democratic convention expected to be decided in a matter of weeks, insiders in the selection process believe it has come down to a choice between St. Louis and Charlotte, N.C., with the other two finalist cities, Minneapolis and Cleveland, all but out of the running."

FOX2's Charles Jaco reports that St. Louis and Charlotte, NC have risen to the top of the four finalist cities for the 2012 DNC Convention. 

The international UNITE HERE union of hotel and textile workers called on the Democratic National Committee yesterday to reject bids by Cleveland and Charlotte to host their 2012 convention because they lack enough unionized hotel facilities.

Instead, UNITE HERE is throwing its support to St. Louis and Minneapolis.  "We think it's important to differentiate between the four [finalist] cities and see that Minneapolis and St. Louis rise to the top," said a union spokesman.

For more on yesterday's development, check out stories in Politico and the Post-Dispatch.

You can show your support for St. Louis's bid by joining their Facebook group here.  It's an no-brainer for people of all political persuasions.

h/t TPM

Launched this weekend...

Don't know about you, but I'm totally sold on this new GOP. 

A new web ad from the DNC:

Newt was just in town, Karl Rove is working with Ed Martin, and Cheney, well, his evil shapeshifting abilities allow him to be anywhere he wants.

(via CNN)