The good news is that Glenn Beck, in an effort to bring some much-needed economic rejuvenation to the town of Wilmington, Ohio, is bringing his radio and TV show to the small town later this month. The town has been hit hard by layoffs and hopes Beck's fans in town for the event will boost the shopping season.

The bad news is I'm not sure the town is going to be overrun with Beck fans the way local officials are hoping.

From the local Wilmington newspaper [emphasis added]:

Producers from the Glenn Beck Program said the city could see as many as 5,000 to 20,000 supporters in town during the talk-show host's “America's First Christmas” event on December 15. Though Beck's live show at 8 p.m. at the Murphy Theater will be streamed online for everyone who couldn't get a ticket, city officials still expect large crowds downtown during that time.

Will 20,000 Beck fans descend on Wilmington in a couple of weeks when the TV host rolls into town? It's possible, especially if Beck takes the AM and TV airwaves in coming days and basically begs people to show up.

But keep in mind that Beck appeared live last night in Pittsburgh, a metropolitan area with 1.7 million people, and he drew 2,500 fans. But for Beck's appearance in Wilmington, which is situated halfway between Cincinnati and Dayton and has a population of 12,000 people, eight times the number of Pittsburgh fans might show up to see Beck?

It's possible. But I would say unlikely.

Also keep in mind that when Beck appeared with fellow Tea Party star Sarah Palin in Alaska back in September, just over 4,000 people attended. Beck had less luck in New Jersey with a live personal appearance in October. For that event, attendance was tallied in the hundreds, not thousands.

Here's hoping the town of Wilmington benefits from Beck's visit. I just wouldn't count all the receipts yet.