UNITY, N.H. -- The little town of Unity is preparing for a huge event Friday when it will briefly be the focus of the country's political world.

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and former rival Sen. Hillary Clinton are preparing to make their first campaign appearance together since Clinton dropped out of the race.

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Watch WMUR News 9 for LIVE reports from Unity and local reaction.

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The event is planned to be held Friday on a ball field outside of Unity Elementary School. Residents of the small town, where T-shirts read, "Life in the slow lane," said it will be an unusual experience.

"Well, I think it's exciting, but I don't think it's overwhelming," said Willard Hathaway, chairman of the board of selectmen.

Hathaway said that he first found on Friday that there was going to be a big event at the school.

"And then on Monday, I got a call that not only was it going to be Mr. Obama, but it was going to be Mrs. Clinton, as well," he said. "And that, I think, really surprised me."

With such high-profile visitors coming, more than 2,500 people are expected to converge on the tiny community with a 2006 population of 1,715. Town leaders said they're not letting it worry them.

"Sometimes, the less preparation, the better it goes," Hathaway said.

The town is letting the Obama campaign and the Secret Service take the lead. On Wednesday, officials were checking out the area, and a shuttle service has been set up to bring people to and from the event.

"We just simply don't have the parking," said Capt. Dennis O'Sullivan of the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office. "It's a small town."

Deputy sheriffs will be at several checkpoints, and the road in front of the school will be closed to traffic.

"Probably five to eight deputies will be working, and I still need to meet to see if we're going to need more," O'Sullivan said.

Will Boutin, owner of Will's Place, the town's only store, said he had to scramble to get his deliveries in before Friday.

"We found out a couple of days ago, and I can't have deliveries come out immediately because I'm too small," he said.

Regardless of how small the surroundings are, the crowds are coming.

"We can't do anything else but deal with it," Hathaway said.

There is a chance of rain in the forecast, but there will not be a tent set up for the event, Obama campaign officials said. They said they are working on a contingency plan in case it rains.

Details Set For Campaign Event

The event kicks off at 11 a.m. outside Unity Elementary School at 864 Second New Hampshire Turnpike and is free and open to the public, but no parking will be available at the school.

Visitors are asked to take shuttles, which require tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis. The shuttles start running at 10 a.m. from the Mount Sunapee Resort at 1398 Route 103 in Newbury, and Twin State Speedway at 282 Thrasher Road in Claremont.

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