President Bush and Sen. John Kerry could end up dividing Maine’s four electoral votes.

Unlike most states, which have winner-take-all systems for their electoral votes, Maine gives two to the statewide winner and one to the victor in each of Maine’s two congressional districts.

Kerry’s advisers say their polls show the Democrat leading Bush statewide and in the state’s southern congressional district. The northern district is the most competitive.

Bush’s advisers say their boss is slightly ahead of Kerry statewide. Public polls show the race tight.

The state’s electoral votes have never been split in the 35 years since the current system was enacted.

Democrat Al Gore won the state 49 percent to 44 percent in 2000, with independent Ralph Nader taking nearly 6 percent of the vote.

Maine is one of several states won by Gore that Bush has a chance to put into the GOP column Nov. 2. The biggest threats for Kerry are Wisconsin, Iowa and New Hampshire, his advisers say. They are a bit less worried about Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Maine, but acknowledge that Bush is pressuring them.

Bush’s family owns an oceanside estate in Kennebunkport, a Republican bastion.

The campaigns spent moderately on television commercials during spring and summer, with each spending about $1.5 million before Labor Day. In September, both sides increased their advertising as polls showed the race tightening.

Now, both sides are saturating the airwaves with ads, with each spending about $250,000 a week in the state.

Quotable

. “In my opinion, this is the most important election in my time. If we continue in the direction we’re headed now, we’ll go on to great things. If we head the other way, to the left, we’re headed for disaster.” – Bush supporter Tom Aasbo, who operates a hunting camp in the northern town of Oxbow.

. “To me, this is a big issue. It controls your life. It completely changes your lifestyle, and it is a serious disease.” – Diabetes sufferer Janet Jones, who backs Kerry because of his support for stem cell research.

. “I’m an independent voter and this has been a frustrating experience for me. I’m obviously concerned about the environment and I’m concerned about where the president is going. But I don’t hear a lot about the Kerry campaign and what they’re going to do about it.” – Pat White of York, CEO of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association.

On the Net: an interactive look: wid.ap.org/campaign2004/battleground-me.html