WILLIAMSPORT — They won’t appear on the same stage as they did in their October vice presidential debate in St. Louis, but Republican Gov. Sarah Palin and Democratic Sen. Joe Biden will again be in close proximity today.

Lycoming College will host a “Change We Need Rally,” with Biden scheduled to speak at 4:30 p.m. on campus at Lamade Gymnasium.

About two hours later at Bowman Field, 1700 W. Fourth St., Palin is scheduled to attend a “Road to Victory Rally.”

Both events, free and open to the public, were hastily scheduled stops, said local party officials.

Entrance to the Palin rally requires tickets, which are still available at some local Republican headquarters.

The Union County Victory headquarters on South Fifth Street in Lewisburg, was out of tickets by Wednesday afternoon, but a spokesman at the office said a few tickets could still be obtained at Lycoming County Republican headquarters at 201 Basin St. and Williamsport Orthopedic, 613 E. Third St., Williamsport.

No tickets are required for the Biden rally.

The doors open for the Biden rally at 2 p.m. For security reasons, rally organizers have asked attendees not bring bags and limit personal items. No signs or banners will be allowed inside the gymnasium.

Biden’s visit marks the third time this year the college has sponsored an event related to the 2008 presidential campaign. During the primary, President Bill Clinton campaigned at Lycoming on behalf of his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, on March 29.

On April 18, Sen. Obama spoke at Lamade as part of his “On Track for Change” tour. More than 2,000 attended each event.

“News of Palin’s stop in Williamsport was unexpected,” said Yvonne Morgan, of the Union County Republican Party.

“She was in State College a few days ago when I learned about the Bowman Field rally,” Morgan said. “I was given tickets and I distributed them to our local offices. The Lewisburg office got about 30 tickets, but they were quickly taken.”

Morgan said that Palin was criss-crossing the state “because we have indications we could win in Pennsylvania. It’s become a high priority.”

The Palin “Road to Victory” rally begins at 6:30 p.m., with the gates opening at 4 p.m.

“I wouldn’t expect the governor to speak until sometime after 7 p.m.,” Morgan said. “Local politicians running for office will likely speak first.”