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