* 12:12 pm - Word’s been going around since at least yesterday that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is planning a pre-convention visit to Springfield, and it looks like it’ll be this Saturday at the Old State Capitol at one o’clock. A big speech is reportedly in the works. The Old State Capitol is where Obama officially kicked off his presidential campaign in 2007.

There’s no official confirmation yet from the Obama campaign, and things like this have a way of changing at the last minute, so keep all that in mind.

Still, at least one of Obama’s top guys is in Springfield and a big planning meeting with the locals just concluded. As one local source just told me, “The only way this changes is if Barack’s pilot makes a wrong turn.”

* 12:34 pm - It appears that Lynn Sweet posted this a few moments before I did, because I was allowing the Obama campaign time to respond to a story I had already pretty much nailed down…

The Obama team, in the run-up to the Democratic convention, will showcase the new Obama ticket Saturday in Springfield at the Old State Capitol, where presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) officially kicked off his campaign in February, 2007.

State of Illinois authorities have beens asked permission by Obama folks to reserve the historic spot at noon. This does not mean that this is the time and place where Obama announces his running mate; that could happen any time from Wednesday morning on. Obama’s time frame is shrinking, so the announcement is coming soon. The new vice presidential contender will jump on the road with Obama to showcase the new partnership. Springfield is a leg on the Obama roots tour.

* 12:39 pm - From the SJ-R, which appears to be down at the moment…

“There will be an event in Springfield on Saturday,” said Justin DeJong, spokesman for the Obama campaign in Illinois.

* 12:43 pm - We’re expecting an official announcement at about 1:30 pm today.

* 12:46 pm - Could Obama announce his veep pick in Springfield? Maybe, says Greg Hinz…

Barack Obama may be returning home to Illinois on Saturday to announce his choice of a vice-presidential running mate.

That, at least was the hot rumor among political insiders Tuesday, as talk spread of an apparent Obama rally set for 1 p.m. Saturday at the Old State Capitol in Springfield — the same place where he announced his candidacy for president a year-and-a-half ago.

There was no immediate response from the Obama campaign. But one source close to Mr. Obama confirmed that such a possibility is under review, with a second Springfield source saying top Obama backers are being notified of a Springfield event.

Meanwhile, political Web site Capitol Fax reported that a planning meeting for an Obama Springfield event was held Tuesday morning. […]

Another source close to Mr. Obama said the Springfield rally could be one of a series of stops with the new running mate, though not necessarily the stop at which the announcement is first made.

* 12:50 pm - Mark Ambinder thinks that a Friday night announcement with a big Saturday splash in Springfield is possible…

So — the e-mail goes out Friday night, and the nominee and the candidate appear together for the first time in Springfield.

Then they’ll go on a biographical tour.