Sen. Barack Obama will kick off a statewide bus tour Friday with a rally at the Soldiers ‘… Sen. Barack Obama will kick off a statewide bus tour Friday with a rally at the Soldiers ‘ Sailors Memorial in Oakland.

The rally is free, but tickets must be obtained in advance from Obama’s regional headquarters located at 208 North Highland Ave. in East Liberty.

Tickets will be available today from noon to 9 p.m. and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Doors open Friday at 9 a.m. and the program begins at 11 a.m. Seating is limited and will be available on a first-come first-served basis.

Attendees are advised for security reasons not to bring bags, signs or banners.

Obama’s bus tour continues eastward Friday with a 5:30 p.m. town hall meeting at Hempfield Area High School in Greensburg.