MUSCATINE, Iowa — Presidential candidate and   Illinois Sen. Barack Obama plans to visit Muscatine the morning of Sunday, March 11, to talk about his views on the war in Iraq.

A definite time and location have not yet been confirmed, but local officials said details will be finalized sometime today.

Betty McMahon, co-chair of the Muscatine County Democrats, said she and other party representatives met with Obama’s field directors Saturday and discussed a plan to bring the presidential candidate to the Pearl City.

McMahon, 74, has met the senator previously and has nothing but good things to say about his potential as a possible president.

“I call him our shining star,” she said. “He’s got a lot of new ideas and I think that’s a good thing for this country right now.”

She describes Obama as “down to earth,” and  said he gives a “fantastic speech.”

“We are hoping to find a place that’s big enough. We expect more than 200 people to turn out,” McMahon said. “Also, he doesn’t want to be on stage; he likes to mingle with the people.”

Obama will also visit Dubuque, Clinton, Davenport,  and Burlington on the weekend of Saturday, March 10 and Sunday, March 11.

Obama announced his presidential bid in January and promises to fight for such things as energy independence, universal heath care and an end to the war in Iraq.

  State Rep. Nathan Reichert, D-Muscatine, said in an e-mail response that Obama’s  visit “… is a great opportunity for the people Muscatine. We are going to be fortunate to see a lot of the presidential candidates in our area, and this is a chance for Muscatine to get to hear Sen. Obama’s message first hand, with out the filter of the media.  I encourage people to hear as many of the candidates as possible so that they may make the best decision in January. 

“I think that the Senator’s decision to run is an exiting development for Americans to have a new voice of hope arrive on the political scene.  Muscatine Democrats have open arms to any candidate who would like to pay us a visit.”

Contact Melissa Regennitter at 563-263-2331, Ext 320, or mregennitter@muscatinejournal.com