DNC2012

DNC Host Committee Still $10 Million Short

Tasnim Shamma — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 22:14:53 +0000

The Charlotte host committee is still $10 million short of its fundraising goal for the convention and has had to tap a line of credit guaranteed by Duke Energy.

A new report shows the committee made little progress – barely a drop in the bucket -- with only half-a-dozen contributions in the past few months. So Duke Energy may just have to foot the bill after all.

Two years ago, DNC organizers were confident they wouldn't need to use Duke Energy's $10 million line of credit.

CMPD Set To Expand Reach Of Surveillance Network

Ben Bradford — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:41:25 +0000

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department has more than a hundred new security cameras Uptown. They were purchased through a federal grant for the Democratic National Convention. Nearly five months later, they’re still in place. But CMPD says they could be put to better use in high-crime areas.

CMPD’s Video Observation Room is a little bit sci-fi.

Behind-The-Scenes Details Emerge Of Police Work During DNC

Julie Rose — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:29:43 +0000

Some behind-the-scenes details of police operations during the Democratic National Convention are coming to light.

The $50 million federal grant Charlotte got for DNC security included a requirement that outside consultants monitor CMPD's efforts and prepare a report. Deputy Chief Harold Medlock says the report praises CMPD's coordination and communication with protest groups, including Chief Rodney Monroe's constant presence on the street during demonstrations.

DNC Meant $163M For Charlotte-Area Economy

Julie Rose — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:26:17 +0000

An outside study released Monday says the Democratic National Convention pumped $163 million into the Charlotte-area economy – making it the largest tourism event the city's ever held. WFAE's Julie Rose has this analysis of the study.

DNC An Economic Boon Or Bust? Answer Comes Today

Julie Rose — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 12:41:42 +0000

Original estimates placed the economic impact of the DNC in Charlotte between $150 million and $200 million. We'll know today if it came close. WFAE's Julie Rose reports:

Charlotte tourism officials have been known to over blow predictions of economic impact for various conventions, so they hired an outside firm to come up with a credible number for the DNC.

First Lady Michelle Obama Campaigns In Charlotte

Tasnim Shamma — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:05:16 +0000

Last weekend, volunteers for both campaigns knocked on doors and called voters to get them to head to the polls. There were also some big names in the area – at least for President Barack Obama.

The Week In Politics: "Unaffiliated" Voters, SuperPAC Enters Judicial Race, DNCC Funding Falls Short

Duncan McFadyen — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:17:29 +0000

Early voting is now underway in North Carolina. And this year, registration data show more voters are choosing not to affiliate with any political party. One quarter of the state’s electorate is now “unaffiliated”---a rise of 21 percent since 2008. In fact, in Mecklenburg County, unaffiliated voters have overtaken Republicans. But NOT SO FAST says WFAE’s political analyst Michael Bitzer. He’s been analyzing the data, and he tells Duncan McFadyen just because people are distancing themselves from parties, it doesn’t mean they’ve changed their partisan leanings.

DNC Fundraisers Came Up $12.5M Short

Julie Rose — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:02:18 +0000

The Charlotte host committee of the DNC has revealed it came up $12.5 million short of its fundraising goal for the convention and was forced to tap a line of credit guaranteed by Duke Energy.

WFAE's Julie Rose has been pouring through documents filed with the Federal Election Commission late last night and joins All Things Considered Host Mark Rumsey to share some analysis.

CRVA Looks To Outside Firm For 'Credibility' In DNC Study

Julie Rose — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:40:19 +0000

The City of Charlotte and several tax-payer funded agencies will pay an outside agency about $25,000 to estimate the DNC's boost to the local economy.

It's pretty standard for the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority to do a "this is how our economy benefited" estimate after major conventions.

North Carolina's Economy And The DNC's Impact

Charlotte Talks — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Well the smoke has cleared and the Democratic Party has left town but what sort of economic impact did they have on our community? Their convention comes just at the end of the third business quarter this year and Dr. John Connaughton will join us to look back at the most recent economic numbers and share his prediction for the quarter ahead. We’re also joined by Charlotte Observer writer Steve Harrison. He and others at the paper have been tracking visitor spending at the convention as well as the challenge of predicting the financial impact of large events in our city.