LEWISTON – The Secret Service is here. The armory’s new wood floors are covered in protective vinyl. The kinder-basketball team has been relocated.

Hillary Clinton is coming to town.

“We’re pretty used to this. Four years ago we had John Edwards here,” said Recreation Department Director Maggie Chisholm, who dealt with the city’s part of preparations for the presidential candidate Friday. “It’s exciting nonetheless.”

At least 1,500 people are expected to pack the Lewiston Armory this afternoon for a town hall meeting with Clinton, the U.S. senator from New York and the current – if slight – front-runner for the Democratic nomination. Maine has 24 delegates up for grabs, just 1 percent of what a candidate needs to win the nomination. But the race is so tight after Super Tuesday that Maine – with its Democratic caucuses on Sunday – has drawn sudden attention from top candidates Clinton and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.

Former President Bill Clinton spoke at a Portland campaign rally for his wife Thursday night. U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, appeared at Bates College in Lewiston Friday afternoon to drum up support for Obama.

Obama will appear at a rally in Bangor at 2:30 p.m. today. Clinton is scheduled to speak in Lewiston at 1:30 p.m.

Chisholm spent part of Friday overseeing preparations for Clinton’s visit to the Central Avenue armory. The new floor had to be covered. The space had to be cleared. The kinder, micro and midget league basketball games had to be moved to Lewiston High School and the Multi-Purpose Center.

“Anything that we can do that we’d normally do for any other events,” Chisholm said.

The prep and space rental could cost between $2,300 and $2,600. The Clinton campaign is paying.

The Lewiston Police Department also spent the day prepping for the visit. They consulted with Clinton’s Secret Service detail about security, traffic management and other issues. Lewiston police will provide security at the event, though it’s unclear exactly how many officers will be there.

“There will be some overtime expenses involved. I don’t have the exact numbers, but there will be some, especially because she’s coming on a weekend where we don’t have as many resources readily available,” Deputy Police Chief Michael Bussiere said. “As far as who pays for that – we will end up footing the bill.”

The city routinely pays for police extra coverage when dignitaries, politicians and big events come to town.

“It’s the cost of doing business,” Bussiere said.

No roads are expected to be closed for Clinton’s visit and traffic is not expected to be re-routed at any point during the event. Parking will be at a premium.

Armory doors open at noon.

Clinton’s appearance will be town-meeting style, her campaign has said. She will speak first and then take questions.