Wednesday will be his first major campaign appearance since coming back from Europe and Asia.

He started the tour in Springfield at Glendale High School at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning. Then at 3 p.m. he held a town hall meeting at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla.

Obama brought his message of change to rural Missouri Wednesday at the town hall meeting in Rolla. There is energy and excitment for the senator in the largely Republican town. Obama spoke on the changes he will make on taxes, healthcare, and education to the type of community he is trying to win over.

"Our country and the families cannot expect to be doing the same things over and over again, and expecting different results," Obama said in his speech.

He also talked about giving money to middle class families.

The town hall meeting comes after Obama opened Campaign for Change offices in Rolla and other rural communities, trying to do what he says bring offices to communities where no presidential candidate has been before.

This is an economic tour but rumors are flying that the stop Wednesday is far more important than policy discussions. Wednesday may be the day the Democratic presidential nominee announces his vice presidential running mate.

Missouri is a hugely powerful state when it comes to deciding the president and Obama wants to show Missourians that he makes his big calls here.

The Washington Post is reporting Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is in "very serious" conversations with Barack Obama about being his running mate. The Politico.com also wrote Kaine was "very, very high" on Obama's short list for vice president.

Kaine has not commented on the speculation. However, the governor was the first statewide elected official to endorse Obama outside of Illinois. Kaine grew up in Kansas City, graduating from Rockhurst High School. He then attended the University of Missouri where he received a degree in economics in 1979.

Kaine also plays up to the conservative base Obama will speak to today, as Kaine is pro-life, opposes same sex marriage and is pro gun rights.

Obama will complete his tour at 6 p.m. Wednesday evening with a barbeque in Union.

Reported by Jennifer Kovaleski