Obama plans Tampa rally

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama plans a rally Wednesday in downtown Tampa at the St Pete Times Forum for his first Florida campaign trip in more than eight months.

The Obama campaign announced Thursday that doors will open at 10:30 a.m. for the noon rally, which will be free to the public. Tickets are required and available at www.barackobama.com. People also will also be able to pick up free tickets at locations in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Sarasota and Manatee counties beginning Saturday; details will be available at www.fl.barackobama.com/tampa.

Tampa Bay is the first stop of a three-day Florida campaign swing that includes Orlando and South Florida. Obama is trying to make up for lost time in Florida, having boycotted the state's officially meaningless primary in January along with Michigan's.

"Sen. Obama is looking forward to campaigning in Florida and discussing the clear choice voters will have in the general election," campaign spokesman Josh Earnest said.

The Florida Republican Party launched a "Welcome Back Barack!" campaign Thursday, with a Web site (www.rpof.org/Obama) bashing Obama for refusing to campaign in the state. It features a map of the "United States of Obama," where Florida and Michigan don't exist.