Report: Charlotte, St. Louis Front-Runners In DNC Bid

CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — A well-known website says Charlotte and St. Louis are the front-runners for hosting the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Politico.com said the Democratic National Committee is leaning toward those two cities. The DNC won't confirm or deny the report, but a Democratic Party source said the list has not been narrowed down. A local insider even told Eyewitness News the Politico article just "popped up." That's why neither Charlotte nor St. Louis is celebrating yet.

"I don't know that there's a ranking system right now and I haven't been told anything," Charlotte Mayor and host committee co-chairman Anthony Foxx said.

"Up until the point where a decision gets made, this is all reading tea leaves. You know who the front-runner is when they make an announcement and somebody wins," St. Louis host committee spokesman Mack Bradley said.

Politico.com says St. Louis has an edge over Charlotte because the Queen City has fewer hotel rooms. But, even if hotel space isn't holding Charlotte back, a union representing hotel workers may. Unite Here sent the DNC a letter, asking it to avoid Charlotte and Cleveland because those cities don't have enough unionized hotels.

The DNC is expected to make a decision by the end of the year. For complete coverage of Charlotte's DNC bid, click here.

WSOC