The rally, held at C.O. Brown Stadium, was Obama’s first campaign stop in Michigan since being formally nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate last week.

Before Obama took the stage, the crowd chanted “fired up, ready to go!” after hearing speeches from U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and other local leaders about their role in recruiting voters.

“Reach out to your friends and your neighbors and that friendly folk on the street you don’t even know,” Stabenow urged the crowd.

The rally kicked off a two-day stint in Michigan as part of Obama and Biden’s “On the Road to Change” tour of Midwestern battleground states. The tour kicked off Friday in Pennsylvania and will continue Monday with stops in Detroit and Monroe.

Stabenow said more than 16,000 people were in the crowd in Battle Creek. Local officials could not confirm the estimate immediately following the event.

President Bush visited the same stadium during his 2004 campaign and drew a crowd of about 10,000 people.

The Battle Creek visit kicks off what is expected to be a busy two months for Michigan campaign visits. State Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer said last week he expects weekly visits from candidates.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his newly announced running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, are scheduled to appear Friday evening at the Freedom Hill Amphitheatre in Sterling Heights.

It will be the pair’s first joint appearance in Michigan.