LEWISTON – Earlier this year, state legislators in Augusta debated Maine’s electoral vote distribution, arguing at length about how to best capture the attention of presidential candidates who often ignore the Pine Tree state.

Since 1969, two of Maine’s four electoral votes go to the winner of the statewide popular vote, one goes to the winner of the popular vote in the 1st District and one is awarded to the winner of the popular vote in the 2nd District. Nebraska is the only other state in which electoral votes can be split.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s campaign announced Thursday it would redirect resources to Maine, particularly the state’s more conservative 2nd District, in hopes of gaining ground in the nationwide race. The 2nd District, represented by Democrat Mike Michaud, includes Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties.

“Everything that happens in Ohio will be happening in Maine,” said Jim Barnett, McCain’s New England campaign manager. “There are very likely scenarios where if either New Hampshire or Maine were to be won by John McCain it could either put the electoral count in a tie or tip the balance in his favor. There are scenarios where just the one electoral vote in Maine’s 2nd District could make the difference.”

Polls released within the past month by Rasmussen and Survey USA have shown Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama leading McCain in Maine by four points and five points, respectively. A Maine poll taken in early June had Obama with 46 percent, McCain 32 percent with 18 percent undecided.

While much emphasis has been placed on the idea of McCain picking up the 2nd District electoral vote, the campaign says it is aiming for more.

“We are not writing off the 1st District by any stretch; we think we are competitive statewide and the polling that we’ve seen has shown us that it’s a very competitive race all around,” Barnett said.

So far, the McCain camp has been tight-lipped about the chances of a visit from McCain or his vice presidential nominee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

“I can’t make any statement on the schedule, which literally changes day to day,” Barnett said. “But he has been there once already, and we hope to get him back.”

McCain made a summer campaign stop in South Portland and Kennebunkport for a fundraiser with former President George H.W. Bush.

Paul Mills, a Farmington lawyer and longtime Maine political analyst, said the real effect of campaign visits from candidates depends on the closeness of the race.

“When the outcome is extremely close, an appearance can be credited with (making a difference),” Mills said. “On the other hand, John F. Kennedy made a very famous appearance in Lewiston in 1960, but nevertheless, the state wound up being the sixth strongest state for Richard Nixon.”

Mills believes McCain has a real chance in Maine, especially based on the 1992 showing of another reform-minded candidate, Ross Perot.

“We were tied with Utah for being one of Ross Perot’s strongest states and the 2nd Congressional District was Ross Perot’s strongest congressional district in the country, coming in over 30 percent,” Mills said. He noted that Perot finished ahead of Bush in Maine that year.

Jessica Santillo, spokeswoman for the Obama campaign in Maine, said she was confident in the efforts her group had made so far in the state.

“We’ve been here since the primary season ended in June, so we feel great about where we are and we have a strong organization on the ground,” she said. “We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing in terms of registering voters, asking people to vote early by absentee ballot and getting more and more people involved.”