When a candidate has no money, trails his popular opponent in every poll, and faces frequent televised attacks on his character, he may need to take drastic action.

But even under these difficult circumstances, it's hard to understand the reasoning behind a decision by gubernatorial candidate and state Rep. Mark Roosevelt '78 (D-Beacon Hill) to take an unpopular stand on one of the year's hottest election issues.

In his campaign against Gov. William F. Weld '66, Roosevelt has become an outspoken critic of expanding casino gambling in Massachusetts. It's a curious strategy; casino gambling is an idea which enjoys the support not only of Weld, but also of the majority of the state's residents.

For Roosevelt, restraining the growth of gambling has become a defining issue of the campaign.

"Bill Weld envisions a Massachusetts with casinos in every region. If Bill Weld gets his way, we'll see....the failure of legitimate business," Roosevelt said last month after winning the primary. "I will never turn my back on the working people of Massachusetts."

But many say that, so far, Roosevelt's strategy has backfired.

"He's going south in the polls, he's raising very little money, and the race is generating zero interest," says Paul Y. Watanabe, a professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts-Boston.

While gambling has certainly piqued the interest of many Massachusetts voters, particularly those who support bringing casinos to the state, observers say other issues will weigh more heavily in their minds on election day.

"I think the strongest thing Weld has going for him is that four years ago the state was in a terrible fiscal crisis," says Alan Altshuler, Stanton professor in urban policy and planning at the Kennedy School of Government.

"The state has had balanced budgets and fiscal stability for the last few years, the economy has recovered faster, and I think [voters] credit Weld at least for the taxes," adds Altshuler, who is also director of the Taubman Center for State and Local Government.

Although a Boston Globe/WBZ poll conducted last week indicates Weld leads Roosevelt 62 percent to 26 percent, Roosevelt campaign officials say the candidate is not planning to change his message any time soon.

"When Mark makes a case against casino gambling, it's called leadership," says campaign spokesperson Dwight D. Robson. "I don't know if Governor Weld has ever told people anything they don't want to hear."

In fact, despite poll results, Robson claims Roosevelt's stance against gambling is actually helping his candidacy.

"When Mark first came out against casino gambling, it was 70 percent to 30 percent [in favor of gambling]," the campaign aide says. "Now we see the numbers coming down quickly."

But even people working for other Democrats are skeptical about gambling as a marquis campaign issue, choosing to emphasize other things.

"I wouldn't say it's the centerpiece of the candidacy," says Mary Cobb, a spokesperson for Roosevelt's running-mate, Robert K. Massie. "We've talked about other issues as well."