Preparations are well under way for Saturday’s big announcement.

Downtown Springfield will be “somewhat closed” for the presidential campaign announcement Saturday of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, Mayor Tim Davlin said Tuesday.

Exact locations of street closures weren’t provided by Davlin, who spoke with reporters at the Old State Capitol, where Obama will make the announcement.

Davlin reiterated that gates will open at Sixth and Adams streets at 9 a.m., and that the Obama campaign has said the program will begin about 10 a.m.

“We’d invite everybody to carpool as much as they possibly can because parking in the street is going to be at a minimum,” Davlin said, although several downtown garages will be open, providing more than 1,000 spaces. The parking lot below the Old Capitol, however, will close at 5 a.m. Saturday.

Watch the Davlin video by clicking on the pic…

And…

A film crew is already in town from Norway. The campaign has fielded inquiries from media outlets in Japan, a few counties in Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

“Needless to say, it’s going to be a big day in Springfield,” said Davlin.

I’m supposed to be interviewed this afternoon by a radio reporter from Switzerland, of all places. What a strange thing. Some legislators have been telling me that the interest in the announcement was so intense back in their districts that they’ve organized bus caravans to Springfield.

If you can’t make it to the show, I’ll be doing some live-blogging for The Hotline blog (some of which may wind up at NBC.com) before during and after the event. We’ll probably be cross-posting those here, so check on Saturday. I’m also hoping to have some audio, and we’re working on that today.

My parents are coming down tomorrow sometime (Mom just told me that Dad and his Obamallac were interviewed by a Quad Cities TV station this afternoon), my brother will be here with his daughters and ArchPundit is crashing on a rollaway bed.

It’s gonna be a madhouse, campers. Dress warmly, and be prepared to deal with thousands of spectators.

Are you planning to go?

By the way, the weather forecast for 9 o’clock Saturday morning is a high of 10 and a low of 6. Partly cloudy skies. Brrrr.

       

34 Comments - oechmd - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 1:49 pm: Nope, not going. Might wind up voting for the guy but am not going to get caught up in the crazy hype going on right now. - Citizen A - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 1:52 pm: It would be worth the trip just to see that Caddy ! But then they’d go and ruin it with all that gushing over “Honest Barry”. Might just go to have a smoke with Mr. wonderful, though. Naaaahhhhh! Will there be an Abe impersonator ? Oh! I forgot. Sorry - Belle - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 1:57 pm: Nope. Davlin’s office said that the parking tickets given out election day to vehicles running with flashers on while unloading (then moved and parked legally) by an over-zealous meter person would not have to be paid. His office lied. Have not been back downtown since. Too bad really, there were a couple of restaurants I liked. To those going to the announcement - beware of where you park. - Snark! - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 2:18 pm: Cool! It is outside, so I can enjoy a smoke while watching. Maybe Obama will light one up, too. - Anon - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 2:18 pm: I think the Obama excitement is a great thing - since when is public enthusiasm a bad thing for a campaign? But I’m going with family and friends to the Obama rally at UIC on Sunday. It’s indoors and warm! As for Saturday and the below-zero wind chill, I will be watching on TV! The Obama camp sure as heck better start on time. People are going to be plenty cold in no time. The warm-up speakers better start at 9:30, not 10. At least Sen. Durbin will help folks forget the cold during his time at the mic. (Note to critics, Durbin often gives a better stump speech than Obama.) - ChicagoCynic - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 2:26 pm: I’ll be there with bells on - to make me easy to find. - NW burbs - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 2:53 pm: I’ll bet all those folks there will raise the air temps at least a few degrees. Any bets on how many anti-Obama slimeposts will end up replying here? We’ve already got a few and mine is only the 7th post. PS y’all: who cares if he smokes? He’s been honest about it all along and he’s trying to quit (again). It’s not any better or worse than all those Moral Party Candidates running for president on a record of divorces and extra-marital affairs. - Citizen A - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 3:05 pm: Trying to quit ? That’s even worse - think how nervous that makes someone - and you want to put that shaking finger on the nuclear button? No, no, no! Let’s not let that happen. Do we know what brand he smokes yet? Or will we have to wait and see who his lawyer, John Edwards, sues? - Levois - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 4:09 pm: It’s going to be a great show down there. This’ll be fun! - Megan - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 4:20 pm: I doubt it….way too cold. - Bomber91 - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 4:22 pm: Nope. Too cold, too early and not an Obama fan. Have fun! - VanillaMan - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 4:26 pm: I would love to, but I have a life. - Utility Infielder - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 4:29 pm: Belle, How much was the ticket? $20? Could be worth it. When he comes up to Chicago it would be about $210 with the ticket tow and storage charge. He’s not Elvis - Citizen A - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 4:41 pm: Blago thinks HE is Elvis - probably is dreaming of being Barry’s running mate. Wow! A chance to be rid of the guv and the jr. sinator in one swell foop. - NW burbs - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 5:28 pm: Citizen A (aka, “Obama Snarkinator”) — re-read your Constitution. Can’t have a Prez and a Veep from the same state, which is why Cheney had to claim his vacation home in Wyoming as his residence despite the fact he was living in Texas in 2000. - Lovie's Leather - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 5:35 pm: I wish the cool-aid drinkers would hurry up and swallow…. - Citizen A - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 5:35 pm: Bet Barry sleeps better just knowing that. Darn! - Dollar USA - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 5:51 pm: Forget going to the announcement on Saturday. Do something useful like helping an elderly neighbor. - Citizen A - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 5:54 pm: Speaking of elvis - is the guv planning on being in springpatch to bask in some of that national spotlight? Can’t imagine him passing up the opportunity. The sideshow could be a blago/davlin hair faceoff. When are the dems going to stop trying to look like Jack and Bobby? Sooo retro . . . and boooring. - State Worker w/ MBA - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 6:03 pm: He has yet to show anything to me. What has he done since he was elected and served in the Il Senate or DC? The lead story on the channel 20 news at 10 is going to be his favorite resturant in Spfld. Give me a break. Also I believe he had voted for every gun control bill up for vote. Lost me right there. - Springfield resident - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 8:33 pm: Parking? At the risk of being pedantic, even Springfield has a bus system (www.smtd.org). Do us all (and the environment) a favor and take public transit. Citizen A - If we could figure out how to tax irrelevant cheap shots, we could go a long way toward funding the pension liability with your comments alone. - Springfield resident - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 8:34 pm: Kamahamaha - The campaign hasn’t started yet. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 8:49 pm: Spfld resident, spfld bus service is pretty erratic (or nonexistent in some places) on saturday. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 8:50 pm: Kamahamaha, let’s see what the turnout is before you say it’s all “media driven.” If most of the people who show up are reporters, then you’ll be proved prescient. I think you’ll be wrong, however. - U of I Dem - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 8:57 pm: A huge contingent from the U of I will be there. - Max Maxwell - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 9:11 pm: How will you be able to tell the difference between a “closed down” downtown Springfield on a Saturday and a regular downtown Springfield on a Saturday?? - Citizen A - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 9:19 pm: Springfield resident There you go again - Tax it if it breathes, moves or just exists. Instead of your tax supported nanny state why can’t we endorse, indeed embrace, Universal SELF SUFFICIENCY ? Try it on - for some of us it fits nicely. What does Barry and his senior twin have to say about that. I know, I know - My taxes will provide that to all. Bwah ha haaa. - OneMan - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 9:59 pm: Kids have soccer on Saturday otherwise I would go just to watch (how often does one get a chance to see something like this) as for the Bus service, having taken a bus in Springfield from downtown to the fairgrounds I would have to say car-pool. Don’t count on SMT and have fun. If you are from out of town, have a horseshoe or a ponyshoe while you are down there for OneMan. - Way Northsider - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 10:21 pm: Planning to go to UIC on Sunday. Sorry to miss Saturday but have family obligations here that take priority. - overthetop - Thursday, Feb 8, 07 @ 10:41 pm: Tempting to go just to figure out where the lunacy is coming from - Disgusted - Friday, Feb 9, 07 @ 12:09 am: Not me, I’m headed to Tampa for some sun. Can’t take this cold weather or the hype. But then again, the city can use the extra cash. - 'Lainer - Friday, Feb 9, 07 @ 6:20 am: One Man — your kids have soccer in THIS weather? - OneMan - Friday, Feb 9, 07 @ 7:48 am: Indoor soccer. - 'Lainer - Friday, Feb 9, 07 @ 8:13 am: Oh… that does make more sense. As for the buses… I have ridden buses from the UIS campus area to downtown on Saturdays frequently, and never had a problem with it. The reliability must depend on the route. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.