A Republican presidential candidate will campaign in Maine this week.

Republican Rep. Ron Paul of Texas will spend Friday and Saturday in Maine.

Paul’s only scheduled appearance, as of Monday, is a visit Saturday morning to the Gorham campus of the University of Southern Maine. The rest of Paul’s itinerary is still being developed, said his state chairman, Paul Madore.

Paul finished fourth in Saturday’s primary in South Carolina, behind Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. The next primary will be held Jan. 31 in Florida.

“He will be here this Friday and Saturday but we are still working on his itinerary,” Madore said. “There will be frequent stops between Portland and Bangor. It’s going to be very exciting.”

Charlie Webster, chairman of Maine’s Republican Party, said Maine could become a campaign stop for other major Republican presidential candidates. “We’ve reached out to all of them,” he said.

Paul is tentatively scheduled to appear – the time is subject to change – at 11 a.m. in the Hastings Formal Lounge on the Gorham campus. University spokesman Robert Caswell said it is a large meeting area on Hastings Hall’s first floor.

Paul’s appearance was arranged by USM Student Body President Chris Camire and Aaron Libby, a Republican state representative from North Waterboro.

“Students are really excited because USM doesn’t see a lot of significant political figures reaching out and letting us know that they care about us,” Camire said.

More details about Paul’s schedule are expected to be released later this week.

Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at: dhoey@pressherald.com