PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – Campaigns revved up their get-out-the-vote efforts for a final push as candidates continued to crisscross the state on Monday, just hours before voters had the final say on Election Day.

Election officials prepared for a heavy turnout and scores of lawyers were ready to assist in the event of polling problems Tuesday.

The campaigns of President George W. Bush and Democratic Sen. John Kerry focused on getting out the vote, with thousands of volunteers canvassing the state, working phone banks and taking part in other activities.

“Everything is in place for a record-setting turnout,” Secretary of State Dan Gwadosky told reporters Wednesday in Augusta.

Tuesday’s weather forecast called for a raw day with high temperatures in the 40s and a chance of rain later in the day.

Recent polls showed Kerry with an advantage in Maine but the battle for the state’s four electoral votes was expected to be close in the 2nd Congressional District, which was getting special attention from the campaigns.

Because Maine splits its electoral votes, Bush could win one vote by taking the 2nd District even if he lost the statewide vote.

Two ballot initiatives – one to limit bear hunting and the other to cap property taxes – also generated plenty of interest and were expected to draw even more voters to the polls on Tuesday.

Also on the ballot: U.S. Reps. Tom Allen and Michael Michaud were facing challenges by Republicans Charlie Summers and Brian Hamel. And all 186 seats in the Maine Legislature were up for grabs.

Passions were running high with soldiers battling in Iraq and the possibility of terrorists trying to disrupt the election.

“In my opinion, this is the most important election to date in my time,” said Bush supporter Tom Aasbo, 40, who had a full house at his hunting lodge in Oxbow as the deer hunting season got under way.

Likewise, Democrats felt just as strongly that the country was going in the wrong direction with Bush.

“There must be a better way to do this than what we’ve done the past four years – on pretty much every issue: health care, the economy, Iraq,” said Kerry supporter Norah Warren, manager of the Vinalhaven Fishermen’s Co-Op.

Both campaigns agreed that every vote counted in a tight race. Bush and Kerry were virtually tied in the Electoral College count.

It remained unknown whether independent Ralph Nader and the Green Party’s David Cobb would siphon votes from Kerry in Maine.

Green Party vice presidential candidate Pat LaMarche said members in battleground states like Maine should consider voting for Kerry. But Nader, who took nearly 6 percent of the vote in 2000, remained a factor.

Security was a concern during the first presidential election since the Sept. 11 attacks. Gwadosky’s office advised clerks to make plans for securing the ballots in the event of an evacuation and for setting up a backup polling place. He also suggested keeping an open line of communications with law enforcement.

In Portland, election clerks were briefed on potential problems by police. Security arrangements were up to local officials.

Also, more than 250 lawyers representing the Democratic Party planned to be at polling places to avoid a repeat of election-related problems elsewhere four years ago that the left the outcome of the presidential election in limbo.

Republicans planned to have lawyers on call to answer questions, but they weren’t planning to be stationed at the polls.

Even on Monday, surrogates continued to visit the state. U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts attended a rally for Kerry and Allen at Portland’s Monument Square before moving to Lewiston to show support for Michaud. U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri attended rallies for Michaud in Bangor and Waterville.

Maine Republican Party Executive Director Dwayne Bickford said the visits were telling. “It’s fitting that the twin pillars of tax-and-spend liberalism are here to campaign on behalf of John Kerry,” he said.

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