CEDARBURG, Wis. (AP) -- Republican presidential nominee John McCain isn't traveling far for his first appearance since his party's national convention wrapped up last night in the Twin Cities.

McCain and running mate Sarah Palin are appearing today in Cedarburg, some 20 miles north of Milwaukee in traditionally Republican Ozaukee County.

City officials say they expect 5,000 to 8,000 people at the outdoor rally. It comes just five days after Democratic nominee Barack Obama appeared before thousands at a Labor Day rally in Milwaukee.

Political scientist Charles Franklin of the University of Wisconsin-Madison says the Cedarburg visit shows the McCain campaign believes Wisconsin to be winnable for the Republicans in November.

The Democrats have won the state in each presidential election from 1988 through 2004, but the last two races were only narrow wins, first by Al Gore and then by John Kerry.