KENNEBUNK (AP) – Former President George Bush says his son will prevail, with the help of an improving economy, in November.

“The economy is strong,” said the elder Bush, who spoke at the opening of Kennebunk Republican offices.

Bush predicted that by Election Day, voters will re-elect the Republican president.

The 41st president, who lost his bid for re-election to Bill Clinton largely because of a faltering economy in 1992, said the strength of the economy is what decides American elections.

“This has not been an easy period,” the former president said. But he said his son “never wavers, he never whines about the loneliest job in the world.”

Jesse Derris, the Maine spokesman for presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry, said the Republican Party should spend more time adding jobs in Maine and less time “adding political jobs to Maine by opening Republican offices.”

Former first lady Barbara Bush and Charles Summers, the GOP candidate for U.S. House of Representatives from Maine’s 1st District, also attended Tuesday’s event. About 100 others turned out.

Summers will face incumbent Democrat Rep. Tom Allen of Portland in November.

The Bushes have a summer home in neighboring Kennebunkport.

AP-ES-05-26-04 0216EDT