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(AP) -- St. Louis lost out to Charlotte, North Carolina in a bid to host the political convention.

Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri is calling bogus a report that she raised concerns about having the Democratic National Convention in St. Louis.

The New York Times has reported that party officials said McCaskill, in discussions with the White House, had questioned whether having the convention in St. Louis would complicate her re-election.

McCaskill tells The Associated Press that the Times report is false and that she did everything she could to bring the convention to St. Louis.

Times reporter Jeff Zeleny says his story speaks for itself.

Republicans in Missouri seized on the Times story to accuse McCaskill of putting her own interests above those of their state.

Meanwhile, Democrat Claire McCaskill is starting her 2012 Senate re-election bid with a cash advantage over her Republican challengers.

Federal finance reports show McCaskill had more than $900,000 in her campaign account to start 2011.

But figures released Wednesday show Republican challenger Sarah Steelman put a dent in the incumbent's advantage after announcing her candidacy on December 1. Steelman reported raising more than $200,000 and, after expenses, had nearly $189,000 in her account to start the new year.

Earlier this week KRCG reported Republican Ed Martin also announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate. Martin lost a race for the U.S. House last year. He said Wednesday that he had about $40,000 in his campaign account.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)