Hoo-ray!
Charlotte beat out St. Louis, Cleveland and Minneapolis in the bid to land the convention, which is expected to bring big bucks--some $150-$200 million--to the city. It will also provide a much needed economic boon to the city, in terms of new construction and other jobs for the next two years leading up to convention week.
So, a lot of folks wonder, why Charlotte?
Well, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine says that politics played a big role in the decision to bring the convention to Charlotte. He said Democrats plan to play offense in the South and they feel like choosing Charlotte moves them in the right direction.
And they're hoping to build on Barack Obama's success in North Carolina. In the 2008 presidential election, Obama beat Republican John McCain in 2008 by some 14,000, which put the state's electoral votes in the Democratic column for the first time since 1976.
And we must build on that, in North and South Carolina.
Republicans, of course, have a different position on the whole thing. The North Carolina Republican Party chairman, Robin Hayes, welcomes Democrats to Charlotte for their national convention next year, but believes it won't be enough for President Obama to again win the state's 15 electoral votes.
Think again, Hayes.
Change is coming, and Charlotte will pave the way.
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I went to a state convention as a child. My dad was a delegate for Nixon in '68, right before we left the country for three years. (!!!!) I remember thinking it was a lot of excitement and hoopla and have watched them ever since.
ReplyDeleteVery cool, I thought of you when I heard this on NPR tonight.
ReplyDeleteAt first I didn't know what to think when I heard this but it makes sense if this is going to be a key battleground state next year.
ReplyDeleteA survey of 800 North Carolina voters conducted on December 17-18, 2008 showed 74% overall support for a national popular vote for President.
ReplyDeleteSupport was 75% among liberal Democrats (representing 13% of respondents), 78% among moderate Democrats (representing 24% of respondents), 76% among conservative Democrats (representing 11% of respondents), 89% among liberal Republicans (representing 3% of respondents), 62% among moderate Republicans (representing 16% of respondents), 70% among conservative Republicans representing 21% of respondents), and 80% among independents (representing 12% of respondents).
Support was 75% among respondents living in Democratic state House of Representative districts (representing 59% of respondents) and 72% among respondents living in Republican state House of Representative districts (representing 41% of respondents)
By age, support was 69% among 18-29 year olds, 71% among 30-45 year olds, 77% among 46-65 year olds, and 72% for those older than 65.
By gender, support was 81% among women and 65% among men.
http://nationalpopularvote.com/pages/polls.php#NY_2008DEC
I have wanted to get rid of the Electoral College ever since I really learned about it. We need to use the popular vote in presidential elections. It makes more sense and will help eliminate problems that favor big states. It will also let my vote count which it rarely does here in TN.
ReplyDeleteI write my Senators and Congressman periodically asking them to vote for the popular vote, but you know how far that goes with Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the convention will be in Charlotte!