By Joe Hadsall

jhadsall@joplinglobe.com

Nancy Corley’s schedule is booked Wednesday morning.

The treasurer for the Jasper County Democratic Central Committee, and many of her ideological colleagues, will be in Springfield to hear the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.

Sen. Barack Obama will appear at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Glendale High School in Springfield. The stop is part of a tour through Missouri’s rural areas that includes stops in Rolla and Union.

“I’m going to be thrilled to hear him speak,” Corley said. “A lot of us are planning on going. You’ll see a big contingency from Southwest Missouri.”

Tickets for the event are free and may be obtained beginning at 9 a.m. today at Obama’s Springfield headquarters, 220 S. Campbell Ave.

Obama will be joined by Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, who ran for the Senate against Republican incumbent Jim Talent in 2006. Corley said the region — traditionally a stronghold for Republicans — played a big part in McCaskill’s election success against Talent.

McCaskill has been a key adviser for Obama’s campaign. She has urged Obama to campaign in smaller cities where Democratic presidential hopefuls are a rare sight, according to The Associated Press.

Corley said Obama’s focus on rural America will be a positive step for his campaign.

“I think Obama’s attention to this area is fostered because of McCaskill’s success here,” Corley said. “Kansas City and St. Louis are traditionally Democratic strongholds, but I don’t think the state can be won unless a candidate pays attention to Southwest Missouri.”

Corley also holds out hope for a more western visit from Obama.

“He certainly has an open invitation to come to Joplin,” she said.