Politico reports that St. Louis is now one of the top two contenders to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention. The other city giving St. Louis the biggest challenge? Charlotte, N.C.

So what, according to Politico, does St. Louis have going for it to host the event?

• A democratic governor in Jay Nixon.
• Powerful allies. In addition to Missouri's congressional Democrats, including Claire McCaskill, the Illinois delegation — including such trusted Obama allies as Sen. Dick Durbin and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley — backs St. Louis, which, of course, shares a metropolitan area with downstate Illinois.
• Endorsement from the UNITE HERE hotel workers union. This is something that Charlotte decidedly does not have - and it's a factor that could make or break the event.

Mack Bradley, a member of the city's convention host committee and spokesman for St. Louis' bid points out that one of the largest Obama rallies of the 2008 cycle was held under the iconic Gateway Arch in the final weeks before the election, with an estimated 100,000 people in attendance. "Clearly, we know how to draw a crowd," he said.

The decision is expected to be finalized in January.

At an appearance in St. Louis on Friday, Gov. Nixon said that he and  Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine have spoken frequently since a review team visited the city in July.

"I know we did really well when the review team came out here. It would be an exciting opportunity for our state. When you talk about the economic part of it, having a convention, that’s a week-long Super Bowl right there," Nixon said.

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