Local data source from string

[Cliff]

Whilst using the drop down list if I assign the data like the first example it works OK, however if I build up a string and then put this in as per the second example it does not work as expected.

***first statement******

 

$("#dropdownlist").kendoDropDownList([{ text: 'Zone 1', value: '0' }, { text: 'Zone 2', value: '10000' }, { text: 'Zone 3', value: '10001'}]);

 

***second statement******

var json = "{ text: 'Zone 1', value: '0' }, { text: 'Zone 2', value: '10000' }, { text: 'Zone 3', value: '10001' }";

$("#dropdownlist").kendoDropDownList([json]);