Homepage Heard on College Hill Funding Our Public Officials Brown Policy Reports Brown Polls Financial Disclosure Lectures RI Factbook PS111 Contact Us Site Search Help Support this Site		Third Independent Poll Shows Casino Losing (posted Oct. 17, 2006) A third independent survey shows the proposed Harrah's and Narragansett Indian casino losing by a wide margin. Yesterday, pollster Joe Fleming released the results of a survey he conducted for WPRI-TV and it had the casino losing by a 51 to 37 percent margin, with 12 percent undecided. Fleming polled 402 likely Rhode Island voters between Oct. 11 to 14 and the survey had a margin of error of +/- 5 percent. The survey mirrors the results of two other recent surveys. A Brown University poll conducted Sept. 16 to 18 found the casino losing by 55 to 36 percent, with 9 percent undecided. And a Rhode Island College survey undertaken Oct. 2 to 4 had the casino losing by 56 to 33 percent, with 10 percent undecided. Despite the more than $8 million spent by Harrah's to promote the casino, these three independently-conducted surveys demonstrate that the Harrah's message of jobs, tax cuts, and economic development is not resonating with state voters. Elderly voters are strongly opposed to a casino and only one-third of the state's electorate believes the argument that the casino will provide promised tax relief. Voters also appear squeamish about amending the state constitution to allow a resort-style gambling casino.