Barack Obama to open 23 rural offices in Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama plans to open 23 campaign offices this weekend in rural areas across Missouri.

Obama's campaign said the offices will be in such cities as Hannibal, Warrenton, Poplar Bluff, Bolivar, West Plains, Farmington, Marshfield, Rolla, Union and Louisiana. The campaign did not have a full list available Wednesday.

Obama has an office at 821-D Broadway in Cape Girardeau.

Earlier this month, Obama backers said the campaign was tripling its paid staff in Missouri to 150.

As of July 9, the campaign of Republican presidential candidate John McCain said it would have 12 to 14 full-time staff in 10 offices around Missouri.