By Glenn Adams,Associated Press Writer

AUGUSTA – Targeting likely Republican voters for a late blitz of campaign material helped to clinch the Republican nomination for Chandler Woodcock in a three-way race that was not decided until Wednesday.

Once it was over, the three former rivals mugged it up together for the sake of party unity and declared the next phase of the campaign to deprive Gov. John Baldacci of a second term begun. Baldacci defeated his challenger, political newcomer Christopher Miller, by a 3-1 margin.

“It is time to replace Governor Baldacci,” Woodcock, a three-term state senator from Farmington, said at party headquarters as former opponents Peter Mills and David Emery looked on. “It is time for a change and it is a time to renew a sense of trust in the Blaine House.”

Mills formally conceded to Woodcock after tallies still trickling in from the polls Wednesday showed he could not win. Unofficial returns from 98 percent of Maine’s 634 precincts showed Woodcock on top with 39 percent of the vote, Mills with 35 percent and Emery, who conceded Tuesday night, with 26 percent.

“If I had to lose, I’m glad I had to lose with someone with such insight and talent,” Mills told reporters crowded in GOP headquarters.

Both Mills, a state senator from Cornville, and former congressman Emery said Republicans will remain focused on issues such as state spending, health care and public debts. Mills said he could think of no one better than someone who taught school for 26 years, Woodcock, to articulate these issues for voters.

Emery, noting that the three GOP candidates avoided criticizing one another during the campaign and focused on the issues, said, “I will help Chandler in any way I can to see that he is successful on Election Day.”

Woodcock maintained a consistent edge over Mills throughout Tuesday night as votes were counted, rewarding a campaign strategy to closely target Republican voters, his campaign manager said Wednesday.

“We focused on people who vote in Republican primaries,” said Chris Jackson. “We got stuff in the hands of people who were going to be (at the polls) June 13th.”

Jackson said Woodcock’s campaign, funded with about $200,000 in Clean Election funds, spent about half of the total after Memorial Day in media buys to familiarize GOP voters with Woodcock and his stands on issues. The campaign also sent targeted groups of voters material showing endorsements from local politicians.

Maine Democrats sought to play down Woodcock’s victory, saying he drew fewer than four of 10 Republican votes and deriding his conservative credentials on issues such as abortion and gay rights.

“Woodcock is the candidate we wanted to run against,” said state Democratic Chairman Ben Dudley. “If you like George Bush, you are going to love Chandler Woodcock.”

Woodcock said his voting record speaks for itself but dismissed the conservative label, saying his campaign would focus on issues like state spending and health care rather than what he described as “moral issues.”

“I’ve never worn those moral issues on my sleeve,” he said.

Baldacci’s defeated Democratic rival, Miller, said he was pleased with his 25 percent showing against an incumbent governor. While Miller worked for the 2004 presidential candidacy of Dennis Kucinich, he said he received strong votes in places where the Ohio progressive was not particularly active.

Asked if his showing marked a protest against Baldacci, Miller said he needed to analyze the figures further. “I don’t know what it means yet,” he said.

In addition to Baldacci and Woodcock, gubernatorial candidates to appear on the Nov. 7 ballot include Green Independent Pat LaMarche, and independents John Michael of Auburn, Barbara Merrill of Appleton, David John Jones of Falmouth and Phillip Morris NaPier of Windham.