BANGOR (AP) – President Bush ran his 2000 election campaign in Maine from an office in Portland, but lost the state’s southern congressional district by more than 27,000 votes.

This time around, state Republicans are hoping to change their luck by moving campaign headquarters to Bangor, where Bush lost by a slimmer margin.

“The 2nd District is incredibly important,” said Peter Cianchette, chairman of Bush’s Maine campaign. “If this election is close, certainly every single Electoral College vote could make a difference.”

But Bush campaign officials made it clear Monday they would not concede Democratic-leaning southern Maine in hopes of picking up a lone electoral delegate from the north.

“Republicans can win in the 1st District,” Cianchette said, citing his narrow victory there in the 2002 gubernatorial election. He said there are plans to open a satellite office in Portland in the coming months.

Maine is one of two states that can split electoral votes between candidates. While the winner of the statewide popular vote gets two electoral votes, the winner in each of Maine’s two congressional districts receives one, making a 3-1 split possible.

In all other states except Nebraska, the winner of the popular vote claims all the state’s Electoral College votes.

University of Maine political science professor Richard Powell said making Bangor the campaign’s hub is a sound strategy and sends a clear message that the Bush camp knows its strengths and weaknesses.

“Clearly they believe the Second District is much more competitive than the 1st,” he said.

Maine Democratic Party chairwoman Dottie Melanson said she expected a close race this year but another Maine victory for her party’s candidate.

“We both fought very hard for the Second District and we won,” Melanson said of the 2000 race. “This time, it’s going to be all about the Second District again.”