From CNN's Peter Hamby:

Washington (CNN) -- The Democratic National Committee has named four cities as finalists to host the 2012 Democratic convention.

The potential sites for the convention, to be held during the week of September 3, 2012, are St. Louis; Missouri; Charlotte, North Carolina; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Cleveland, Ohio.

"Throughout this summer, our team will visit these four cities to determine which is the best locale to host our 46th National Convention," DNC chairman Tim Kaine said in an e-mail to supporters announcing the finalists. "We look forward to our continued work to ensure that the Democratic National Convention of 2012 is the best that it can be."

The DNC will select the host city "at some point before the end of the year," a party official told CNN.

Last month, the Republican National Committee's site selection committee recommended Tampa, Florida as the host city for their 2012 convention. The RNC is expected to finalize that decision at their summer meeting in August.

Better start raising money, Cleveland -- and protecting yourself against beltway rust-belt attacks. From the Plain-Dealer:

Stuart Rothenberg, a Washington-based analyst, called the four cities "an unusual mix."

"I can come up with a rationale for and against each," he said. "Cleveland is 'yesterday,' Charlotte is 'tomorrow' . . . Charlotte is new. It's growth. It's money. It kind of epitomizes a New South."

The Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee reported raising $60 million to stage the convention -- more than the $40 million it originally promised. The Denver Post reported that almost three-quarters came from labor unions and health care, telecommunications and energy companies.