Democrats from Illinois and Indiana are among those arriving in North Carolina with hopes of getting the president re-elected.
Charlotte's downtown filled with the chants of a few hundred protestors billed as a March on Wall Street – South and while it was not a march of thousands it did include some with Chicago roots, like University of Chicago graduate Michael Heaney.
"For those of us who are the left side of the political spectrum, to remind President Obama and the Democrats of the many issues where his policies have fallen short," Heaney said. "These are areas where the president has been no better than the Republicans."
Charlotte police are out in force, with the assistance of police departments from all over the region.
And even a contingent of Chicago's finest is here as 50 Chicago officers were flown in.
It's a payback of sorts for Charlotte officers helping out Chicago during the NATO Summit.
And it's clear, Chicago was a training ground for Charlotte's response Sunday.
"Some of the things you see out here today, or some of the things that we picked up from Chicago, as well as Tampa, I think that the most critical thing is that we all communicate with each other," said Charlotte Police Chief Rodney Monroe/
Tall fencing is now in place to protect parts of Charlotte's downtown, with a corral along the streets to draw a security line. And, like Chicago, the big city trucks are lined up. Cities have found they make a significant barrier, if needed.
While Charlotte gets ready, the Obama campaign continues its Road to Charlotte tour. The president was in the battleground state of Colorado Sunday before moving on to Ohio.
And Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, on NBC's Meet the Press, said the president must use this convention week to hammer home a message to middle class voters frustrated with the economy and frustrated with Washington.
"He has to lay out that vision and it will be in contrast to Romney's speech, that had none of that," Emanuel said.
With the Republican convention fresh in the minds of voters, the Democrats have the advantage of getting in the last word before that prime time audience.
