PORTLAND (AP) – Two days after receiving only 1 percent of the vote in the Iowa caucuses, Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich on Wednesday took a whirlwind tour through Maine, his fourth campaign visit to the state.

Beginning with a rally for peace at the University of Maine in Orono, Kucinich began a bus tour that included planned stops in Bucksport, Belfast, Rockland, Bath and South Portland before crossing the border to Portsmouth, N.H.

“I knew from the start that this was going to be a 50 state race, and other candidates felt that it was going to be decided in Iowa,” Kucinich told The Associated Press during a telephone interview between stops.

Presidential candidates have historically overlooked Maine, choosing instead to focus on New Hampshire’s primary elections. Only a few of the Democratic presidential candidates have campaigned in the state.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and retired Gen. Wesley Clark, both of whom are vying for the party’s nomination, have stopped in Maine.

But Kucinich has visited the state three times before, and he said he plans to continue with his campaign even after faring near the bottom in Iowa on Monday.

Kucinich finished behind Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, who had 38 percent of the vote in Iowa, John Edwards, who had 32 percent, and Dean with 18 percent. Also leading Kucinich was Dick Gephardt, with 11 percent of the vote.

Although Gephardt has since dropped out of the race, Kucinich said he will campaign until the national convention in July.

“He put all his eggs in one basket, and I put little eggs in 50 baskets,” Kucinich said of Gephardt’s decision. “My strategy has never been dependent on a make or break in any state.”

Some political science experts have said it may be risky for Kucinich to concentrate so heavily on Maine’s caucuses.

J. Mark Wrighton, an assistant professor of political science at the University of New Hampshire, said Kucinich’s repeated visits to Maine are likely part of a strategy less concentrated on front-loading the campaign.

“Kucinich is noted for not following the crowd, and that is certainly his campaign’s prerogative,” he said. “But the process still favors those who have early money and do well early in amassing delegates.”

Maine Democrats hold their municipal caucuses on Feb. 8. The caucuses will determine the apportionment of delegates to the Democratic State Convention based on declared presidential preference.