as more political players like newt gingrich announce byes for office the spotlight on 2012 elections gets only hotter. charlotte, north carolina, feels the heat as it hosts the democratic national convention in september. tom foreman takes us there in our building up america special series. reporter: charlotte s hockey team is in the playoffs, but the sign overhead says what everyone knows, the hottest game in this arena is the coming democratic convention. all over town, new places are opening, old ones are polishing up, and from his office high above it all this is a stage unlike any other. reporter: mayor fox hears opportunity knocking. it s a pretty aggressive move to go after a convention in the middle of a recession. reporter: you think that sends a signal to all businesses? they re saying charlotte s growing, charlotte s ready to be bigger and better than it already is. reporter: they say the convention will draw 35,000 viz