Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama announced a campaign stop in Gary on Thursday as part of his "Road to Change" bus tour across the state.

Obama will be speaking at Theodore Roosevelt High School, 730 W. 25th Ave. A news release says the program is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., with doors opening to the public at 9 a.m.

Tickets are required because of space restrictions. Tickets are available at Obama for America headquarters at 4405 W. 5th Ave in Gary, between noon and 9 p.m., or at 200 Billings St. in Valparaiso, between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m.

After going several years without a presidential campaign stop, Northwest Indiana residents are being treated to plenty of face time from the Democrats still vying for the party's nomination. The Indiana primary is May 6.

Sen. Hillary Clinton visited the Hammond Civic Center on March 28 to rally supporters as part of a statewide tour. Her daughter, Chelsea, visited East Chicago on Sunday.

Both sides say the other has the natural advantage in Indiana. Clinton supporters say they need to overcome Obama's familiarity to voters because of Indiana's proximity to Chicago, while Obama supporters say Clinton has the support of the political status quo.

Outside Indiana, political observers and pollsters say Obama is leading Clinton by so many pledged and superdelegate votes that she stands only a slim chance of winning the nomination at this point.

During her stop in Hammond, Clinton rejected calls for her to stop her campaign, saying the race was energizing Democratic voters across the nation and keeping the media focused on her party's race for the White House.

Read more in Wednesday's edition of The Times.