Better Springsteen tix available at 10 a.m.

The city expects that Saturday's Bruce Springsteen concert could swamp the Parkway with people, so getting a good view of the stage could be difficult.

Unless you volunteer.

That means helping with the concert or working for the Obama-Biden campaign.

The 3:30 p.m. concert is a get-out-the-vote event for the Democratic presidential candidate, just two days before the deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania.

Sign-ups started at 10 this morning at many Barack Obama campaign offices throughout the state - and lines were already starting to form an hour in advance.

For a while, though, confusion and frustration reigned at campaign offices across the state.

Tickets were not immediately available.

By 10:30, however, a statewide decision had been made. Yes, people who come into specified campaign offices would be handed tickets, after signing up to volunteer.

Initially, people were told they'd have to do a volunteer stint first – manning phones, for example – and would have to pick up their preferred-seating tickets later.

Others showed up hoping to get general admission tickets. But those need to be obtained through Obama's Web site, at http://pa.barackobama.com/springsteen.

"This is a bit of a mess," said Allison O'Callaghan, a major Springsteen fan who wanted to do canvassing in Germantown.

Soon, however, she had her ticket, and was smiling.

"Mission accomplished," said the insurance administrator, 48, from East Falls.

By 11 a.m. between 75 and 100 people had volunteered and received Springsteen tickets at the Center City Obama headquarters.

Zach Friend, an Obama spokesman for the Eastern Pennsylvania region, said a conservative crowd estimate for the Saturday rally is 50,000, adding that Pennsylvania was chosen for the event because it is a "battleground" state.

"There is no math in which you can lose Pennsylvania and win the election," Friend said.

O'Callaghan, 4 estimated she's been to 60 – yes, 60 – Springsteen concerts since the "Born to Run" tour in 1985.

Campaigning for Obama and getting to see Bruce, she called "a win-win. That's the way Bruce would have it."

Volunteers will be able to stand near the stage, expected to be set up just west of Logan Square.

The turnout could be huge, said Melanie Johnson, city representative. "He's a very big name. It's a free concert. And it's on a Saturday. So I think we'll have a large group of people coming out."

The Obama campaign is paying for a customary package of concert services, including police and clean-up crews, she said.

No comparable city events have been proposed so far by the McCain-Palin campaign, she said.

Gates are scheduled to open at 2 p.m.

Volunteers can sign up at the following locations.

IN PHILADELPHIA

Center City, 1500 Sansom St., Suite 400. 267-886-8591.

South Philadelphia 1501 Christian St. 267-298-8615.

West Philadelphia 246 S 52d St., 267-975-3529.

Fishtown 260 E. Girard Ave. 267-298-8673.

North Philadelphia 2221 N. Broad, 4th Floor. 267-298-8680.

Frankford 7727 Frankford Ave. 215-904-6004.

Ward 23 4915 Frankford Ave. 267-343-8912.

Germantown 7102 Germantown Ave. 267-298-8768.

Oak Lane 6521 N. Broad St. 215-224-9410.

University City 4001 Chestnut St. 267-972-7315.

IN THE SUBURBS

Ambler 1123 Bethlehem Pike. 267-470-4782.

Ardmore 6 Greenfield Ave. 610-649-7218.

Bristol 234 Mill St. 267-812-5719.

Doylestown 72 North Main St. 267-880-6673.

Jenkintown 1657 The Fairway. 215-884-2884.

Media 362 West Baltimore Ave. 484-442-8611.

Norristown 1790 Markley St. 484-684-6072.

Phoenixville 22 South Main St. 610-241-0247.

Pottstown 235 East High St. 484-624-5882.

Upper Darby 1404 Bywood Ave. 484-461-1435.

West Chester 543 East Gay St. 484-947-5573.

ELSEWHERE IN PENNSYLVANIA

Allentown 4140 West Tilghman St. 610-564-4361.

Bethlehem 531 Main St. 610-807-3690.

Easton 355 Ferry St. 610-564-4777.

Harrisburg 401 N. Second St. 717-695-6912.

Lancaster 252 Harrisburg Pike. 717-435-8197.

Pittsburgh 213 Smithfield St. 412-867-6673.

Reading 147 N 5th St. 610-370-7031.

Scranton 222 Wyoming Ave. 1A 570-909-9386.

Wilkes-Barre 238 Kidder St. 570-951-9259.

York 200 West Market St. 717-668-8536.