As the Democratic National Convention kicks off today in Charlotte, N.C., President Obama must make his case for a second term against a backdrop of 8.3 percent national unemployment, and the rate in the state that is hosting the DNC, where an even higher percentage are looking for work.

Infographic: Democratic National Convention by the Numbers

North Carolina's unemployment rate was as high as 11.4 percent in January and February 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state's unemployment rate is still well above average at 9.6 percent and remains above pre-recession levels.

Some pro-union groups are angry about the state of unemployment in North Carolina, which has the lowest percentage of union members in the country, according to the Associated Press. Yesterday, about 300 union activists, marched in the Charlotte Labor Day Parade, bringing attention to the state's ban on collective bargaining for teachers and other public workers, the AP reported.

Here's an economic snapshot of states where recent political conventions took place, including the conventions for the last presidential election using the most recent monthly unemployment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and foreclosure data from RealtyTrac.

The last Democratic National Convention was held in Denver in August 2008 and the Republican National Convention took place in St. Paul, Minn., the following month.

North Carolina

Unemployment rate

July 2012: 9.6 percent

July 2008: 6.6 percent

Foreclosures

July 2008: 4,303

July 2012: 2,957 (1 in every 1,463 homes)

Case-Shiller Home Price Index, Charlotte

June 2008: 131.92

June 2012: 112.95

Florida

Unemployment rate

July 2012: 8.8 percent

July 2008: 6.2 percent

Foreclosures

July 2008: 45,884

July 2012: 25,534 (1 in every 352 homes)

Case-Shiller Home Price Index, Tampa

June 2008: 175.13

June 2012: 132.25

Colorado

Unemployment rate

July 2008: 5.2 percent

July 2012: 8.3 percent

Foreclosures

July 2008: 5,376

July 2012: 2,875 (1 in every 770 homes)

Case-Shiller Home Price Index, Denver

June 2008: 130.16

June 2012: 129.03

Minnesota

Unemployment rate

July 2008: 5.8 percent

July 2012: 5.8 percent

Foreclosures

July 2008: 1, 671

July 2012: 2,278 (1 in every 1,030 homes)

Case-Shiller Home Price Index, Minneapolis

June 2008: 141.96

June 2012: 118.34