The last time a democratic presidential candidate won in southwest Missouri was in 1964, when Ozarkers voted for Lyndon Johnson over republican Barry Goldwater.
So why is vice presidential hopeful and democrat Joe Biden speaking in Springfield?
He’ll make his appearance in Jordan Valley Park at 11:30 a.m.
He’s expected to talk about- you guessed it, the economy.
But other people are talking about the fact he's even showing up in republican rich southwest Missouri.
"We wanted to welcome Joe Biden to the Ozarks because this is a great time to visit- scenery's great, great Ozarks hospitality,” but Greene County republicans aren't sure why he'll be here.
“Greene County, southwest Missouri, is certainly McCain-Palin country,” says party volunteer Ann Compton who claims the pair are so popular around here local republican headquarters is completely out of yard signs.
Across town, though, people on the other end of the political spectrum say Biden's visit is not in vain.
“I think this is really about who is going to help me get back on track. The past eight years of George Bush failed economic policies have folks wondering where am I in this? How do I get ahead? What about the middle class?" explains the Obama campaign’s regional press secretary Jean Weinberg.
As the dems prepare for the VP nominee's arrival many of them stress this is not an election where people will vote strictly by party line.
The latest poll shows only 2% of Missouri voters are still undecided.
Now the Obama-Biden campaign is really banking on swinging some of those southwest Missouri voters their way after Biden's appearance here Friday.
Weinberg says, “I think we want to hear from folks who haven't made up their minds yet."
Compton, however, says those folks don't live here.
“Here in southwest Missouri I think there are few minds to be changed."
We asked Compton if she thinks Governor Sarah Palin will follow in Biden's footsteps and speak in Springfield; she said only that she's always welcome.
But Compton did mention that former Arkansas governor and McCain supporter Mike Huckabee might stump here for the republican ticket next week.