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Ohio's prime spot on the convention floor

Tomorrow night, when First Lady Michelle Obama makes her speech to the Democratic National Convention at Charlotte's Time Warner Cable Arena, she can look to her left and see the Ohio delegation sitting close by the stage.

Placement of state delegations on the floor of the convention is usually an indication of the state's importance in the upcoming election - and Ohio is a very important battleground state.

So, they have a prime spot, just to the left of the speakers' podium in the arena that usually houses the Charlotte Bobcats, an NBA team.  

There is no word yet on where the Ohioans will be sitting Thursday night at nearby Bank of American Stadium, where the Carolina Panthers play. That's where President Obama will deliver his acceptance speech Thursday night.

At Time Warner Cable Arena, where the convention sessions will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, the prime spots directly in front of the podium will go to Illinois (Obama's home state), Delaware (Vice President Biden's home state) and North Carolina (the host state for the convention).

Howard Wilkinson is in his 50th year of covering politics on the local, state and national levels.