A group from the Democratic National Committee came to size up Charlotte this week for its 2012 convention. The site selectors wrapped up their two day-visit today after scoping out Time Warner Cable Arena and hotel rooms and meeting with business and government leaders. If Charlotte lands the convention, the city would have to raise $40 million to pay for things like arena renovations. Perdue says attracting 35,000 visitors and their pocketbooks to the city is well worth that expense.

"We invite visitors, ambassadors, kings and queens and people alike to our community to eat, drink, spend the night and invest their precious out-of-state tax dollars in our good state," says Perdue. "This is a $200 to 300 million enterprise. It means meals sold, taxis rented."

Minneapolis, Cleveland and St. Louis are also in the running. The DNC plans to announce its pick by the end of this year after visiting each of the cities.