Whoo hoo! Sarah Palin to be in Indianapolis, Friday, Oct. 17th

Republican nominee for vice president to hold rally in Indianapolis area on Friday. Indy Star by Mary Beth Schneider - October 11, 2008 - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican nominee for vice president, will hold a rally in the Indianapolis area on Friday.

Jennifer Hallowell, regional campaign manager for GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, said Saturday that details for Palin's "Road to Victory" rally are still being worked out. A venue has not been determined, but Hallowell said she expects doors to open at 1 p.m. and the program to begin at 3 p.m.

The visit will be Palin's first visit to Indiana. McCain last visited Indiana on July 1, when he spoke to a convention of the nation's sheriffs.

Palin's visit will come a little more than a week after McCain's opponent, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, held a rally Wednesday that was attended by about 21,000 people at the State Fairgrounds. That was Obama's 46th visit to Indiana, and his sixth since the May primary election. Obama's running mate, Sen. Joseph Biden, was in Southern Indiana in September.

Polls have shown a close race for president in Indiana, a state that hasn't backed a Democrat since Lyndon Johnson carried the state in 1964.

A recent Indianapolis Star/WTHR (Channel 13) poll showed Obama leading McCain 47 percent to 44 percent, while a WISH (Channel 8 ) poll had the race tied at 46 percent each.

Palin has drawn large and enthusiastic crowds to her rallies since she was named as McCain's running mate on Aug. 29. She has been credited with energizing the conservative base of the party, although opponents contend some of those crowds have erupted in anger directed at Obama.

Palin's rally will be a ticketed event. Details on how to get tickets will be announced later.