[Ed. note: We are going to post periodic reports from the field as we ramp up to the Obama Campaign event in Grand Rapids this evening. Stay tuned!]
BUZZ NOW 5:55 pm: Obama Campaign has confirmed the endorsement.
5:31 pm: Todd Heywood is at Van Andel Arena, will be liveblogging the event -- said that it's confirmed by the campaign that Edwards will endorse before end of 6pm news cycle.
WATCH FOR MORE ON MICHIGAN MESSENGER.
Watch Michigan Messenger for more coverage of the Obama Campaign events in Michigan. Find earlier updates below the fold.
4:35 pm -- Detroit, Mich. --
Minehaha Forman is finishing her piece from this morning's Obama event and will be posting it shortly to the Michigan Messenger site.
3:55 pm -- Inside Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Mich. --
Another check-in by Todd, who is taking a photo of the now-empty arena for a comparison against the expected crowd shot later. Local media is already in attendance; national press is expected to arrive by bus within the hours. Secret Service agents from around the country are highly conspicuous and active. (Watch for photo to be posted after Todd has set up in the press box area.)
3:16 pm -- Outside Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Mich. --
Todd Heywood has arrived at the event venue and reports that there are several hundred people lined up outside the arena already, as well as the usual purveyors of campaign buttons and other sundry memorabilia. Traffic appears to be well-managed at this time.
2:37 pm -- I-96 near Ionia, Mich. --
Todd Heywood reported from the westbound highway en route to Grand Rapids; he says traffic is very heavy and Obama '08 bumper stickers are quite frequent. There is an extremely obvious police presence as well. Traffic is moving slowly at times due to intermittent heavy rain.
1:46 pm -- Macomb Community College --
Minehaha Forman called in and reported an enthusiastic crowd. She said it took some work to find someone who was not already a solid supporter of Obama. She'll be filing a report as soon as she can get to a computer; the parking lot at the event was quite busy with buses and cars afterwards.
10:30 am --
This morning one of our Fellows, Minehaha Forman, is at an Obama event in Macomb County, Michigan. We expect to have a story from her before 3pm this afternoon.
Jim Fordyce is watching for any unscheduled or unannounced Obama events, and Todd Heywood is making plans to attend the Obama event in Grand Rapids this evening. We're still working on one-on-one face time with the candidate, although our chances are slim.
We may have some live coverage this evening, depending on the logistics.
More later today at Michigan Messenger.
Other current stories at Michigan Messenger:
Grand Rapids Police say they are ready for influx of thousands -- Todd A. Heywood
Obama to storm Michigan in first steps of general election -- Todd A. Heywood
Gay news you can use: Now with more fibbing, outing, punishment -- Todd A. Heywood
Race, religion and politics: Does the black church matter? -- Minehaha Forman
Abortion-rights pioneer Edelin alarmed by threats to Roe -- Alexa Stanard
Democrat Alexander to run against Rogers in 8th District -- Todd Spencer