Some Five thousand, five hundred and fifty six (5,556) delegates and 407 alternates gathered in Charlotte for what Democrats termed "the most open and accessible convention in history."  On Feb. 1, 2011 the Democratic National Committee announced its selection of Charlotte, NC to host its 2012 national convention (+).  The choice was a bit of a risk; Democrats sought to build support in a key state, but the fact that North Carolina is a right to work state grated on some in organized labor.  Perhaps setting a trend for future national conventions, Democrats pared the quadrennial confab to three days. 

The Democratic National Convention Committee worked since 2011 to prepare for the gathering of delegates.  The Charlotte in 2012 host committee aimed to raise $36.6 million in private donations, although its task was made difficult because it agreed to rules against contributions from corporations, PACs, federal lobbyists, Section 527 organizations as well as a $100,000 limit on individual contributions.  The host committee ultimately managed to raise contributions totaling only $24.5 million (including an in-kind total of $1.3 million from Duke Energy Corporation and $500,000 contributions from the SEIU and from the Fred Eychaner Charitable Fund), and it took on $13.0 million in loans.  The committee made disbursements totaling $32.9 million.  The DNC platform was finalized and amended, although not without some controversy.  Some 15,000 media representatives covered the convention (1, 2, 3).  Finally, it would not be a convention without protests, some of which were coordinated under the Coalition to March on Wall Street South banner.  Both conventions are designated National Special Security Events and dozens of law enforcement agencies are coordinating on security operations. 

Democrats had been planning to hold the closing night at Bank of America Stadium, but on Sept. 4, 2012 they announced a move to Time Warner Cable Arena due to severe weather forecasts (+).  (Republicans said the move was because Democrats had not been able to get enough participants to fill the stadium; convention planners rejected the charge, but the change did put a bit of a damper on the Democrats' big show.  On Thursday night the rain did not materialize).  White House senior advisor David Plouffe stated, "We come out of the convention with momentum. That doesn't mean the race is going to change significantly. But we think that we come out of here with some momentum in terms of putting together the electoral picture."

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