Palin to arrive tonight for Thursday Cape Girardeau appearance

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, will arrive at approximately 9:45 p.m. at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, a spokeswoman for the McCain-Palin campaign said.

Palin will depart for Cape Girardeau from a campaign rally in Jeffersonville, Ind. She was scheduled to begin speaking at that rally at 6:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time.

Palin will spend the night at a Cape Girardeau hotel before taking part in a campaign rally at the Show Me Center, said Alexis Garcia, advance media representative for the McCain campaign. Doors to the Show Me Center open at 6:30 a.m. for ticketholders and the rally is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m.

The last few tickets for the Palin rally were being distributed late today at Cape Girardeau County Republican headquarters. At the Show Me Center this evening, stage hands were busy setting up the rally while more than 150 volunteers received instructions for handling the expected overflow crowd that will take part in the event.

"What we do here tomorrow will send a strong message not only to Southeast Missouri but to the nation," Tom Schulte, district director for U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, told the volunteers.

The Southeast Missourian plans live video of the rally and Palin's speech for people unable to attend.

For more information, check back at semissourian.com.