Times Staff Report

MERRILLVILLE | U.S. Sen Barack Obama's wife has announced a Friday campaign stop in Merrillville.

Michelle Obama will visit the Merrillville Intermediate School's Larry Martin Gymnasium at 5 p.m. Friday to boost visibility for her husband's campaign for the Democratic nomination for president.

Free tickets for the event will be available at www.barackobama.com. A ticket will be required for admission. Doors open at 4 p.m. The campaign asks people not to bring bags. No signs or banners will be permitted.

It will be the fifth presidential campaign stop in Northwest Indiana in three weeks.

Barack Obama visited Gary last week, while his primary election opponent, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., has visited Northwest Indiana twice in the past three weeks. Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, visited East Chicago earlier this month as well.