PALMYRA -- Jim Spraggins's phone at the Moosehead Trail Trading Post has been ringing off the hook the last few days.

"We usually don't get that type of excitement in the area," said Spraggins, owner of the sporting goods store for 16 years.

The reason is today's special guest: Alaska's self-described "first dude," Todd Palin, will stop by for handshakes, talk and food at 2 p.m. He's campaigning on behalf of his wife, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee.

The McCain campaign hopes to pick up at least one of Maine's four electoral votes, because the state gives two votes to the statewide winner and one apiece among the two Congressional districts. The 2nd Congressional District includes the northern two-thirds of the state and includes more rural voting areas that the McCain campaign thinks are more sympathetic to the Republicans.

The barbecue and social event in Palmyra, with snowmobile sleds on display, is open to the public and will probably last an hour or two, said Spraggins, a McCain-Palin supporter. Palin is scheduled for a similar visit in Presque Isle on Sunday.

Spraggins said his trading post in Palmyra was selected at the suggestion of state Rep. Josh Tardy, R-Newport, who is vice chairman of McCain's Maine presidential campaign.

This morning, Palin is first campaigning in Fremont, N.H., where he'll attend the Grass Drags and Water Crossing snowmobile event at Peterson's/ Brookvale Farm. From there, he'll drive up to Palmyra.

The McCain campaign thinks moose-hunting Sarah Palin and her husband, an avid outdoors enthusiast and champion of the Iron Dog snowmobile race, can help the Republicans win support in rural Maine, where hunting and snowmobiling are popular.

"John McCain's campaign is competing hard to win in Maine," said Jeff Grappone, New England communications director for the campaign. "As reformers, with records to match, Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are a natural fit for Maine's famously independent-minded voters."

Todd Palin's visit is "an indication that Maine is in play," said Bob Meyers, executive director of the Maine Snowmobile Association, which has 30,000 members and has endorsed McCain. "It's good to have him come up and make an appearance. Someone like him is well-known in snowmobile circles. People who follow that type of snowmobile racing are certainly familiar with him."

But the McCain campaign has an uphill battle in Maine. According to an Oct. 2 Rasmussen poll of 500 Maine voters, Sen. Barack Obama led McCain 51 percent to 46 percent. In addition, Maine has never split its four electoral votes since the system was adopted in 1972. The last time Maine's electoral votes went to a Republican was 20 years ago, to George H. W. Bush.

The Obama campaign says it has a dozen offices in the state, nine of which are in the 2nd Congressional district, and an aggressive voter registration program.

"Mainers have been hit hard by the economic crisis and are looking for a president who will deliver real solutions," said Toby McGrath, state director for Obama in Maine, in an e-mailed statement. "Obama has made investing in the middle class, providing health care for all, and creating good jobs his top priority. John McCain has not. Those are the issues that are on people's minds as they weigh their decision in this race and it is clear that Obama is candidate who can turn our economy around."

Tammy Rheault, an employee at the Palmyra Variety Store, isn't too excited about Todd Palin's visit. She thinks "radical change" is needed in the White House and the McCain-Palin ticket would mean "putting the same person in office again."

"It's nice, but in the back of my head I'm thinking, 'It's just one stop on the campaign tour,'" Rheault said. "It's not like he (Todd Palin) is going to remember that visit."

Spraggins thinks Todd Palin's visit will generate excitement for the ticket in central Maine; he expects several hundred people to turn out today.

"I'd like to talk to him and shake his hand," Spraggins said. "It's kind of exciting to be involved in a presidential campaign, to have that opportunity."

Scott Monroe -- 487-3288, 861-9253

smonroe@centralmaine.com