It's all, they say, about jobs.

"A lot of tribal members have moved off the island because there was no work," Wright says. "It's not the gaming, it's the jobs--the people of Massachusetts need jobs. Our tribal members need jobs."

Currently, the only employment opportunities for the Wampanoags in the adjoining town of Gay Head--which the Wampanoags call Aquinnah, meaning both "land below the hill" and "beautiful colors by the sea"--are as short-order cooks and clerks in the strip of ramshackle businesses that line the town's beaches.

But where exactly the new casino jobs will be allocated has become a contentious issue between the tribe and the City of New Bedford.

Like the Wampanoags, New Bedford has suffered economically. And like the Wampanoags, the city's residents are in need of jobs.

New Bedford City Councillor David M. Gerwatowski says that though the Wampanoags want to give preference to tribal members, and then to residents of Bristol County, "we're making our case known" in the bid for casino-related employment.

The tribe has fewer than 700 members, while even the most conservative estimates suggest 5,000 jobs will be provided by the casino.

Still, while New Bedford has embraced the idea of housing the casino, not all are convinced it's the best option for the city. Even those who say they will support the plan have reservations.

"We definitely need a boost--but I don't know if the answer is gambling," says City Councillor John Saunders. "I'd be a fool to say I represent the city and turn that many jobs away...but it will create a certain amount of corruption and violence."

New Bedford, a heavily industrial and staunchly Democratic city, voted overwhelmingly for Roosevelt in the primary election last month, Saunders points out.

"It's surprising," Saunders says. "It tells me that they're not too crazy about the idea of a casino in New Bedford."

Roosevelt's Plan

Roosevelt has developed his own plan for economic development in the New Bedford area--a plan that omits casino gambling.

Roosevelt spokesperson Dwight D. Robson says his candidate would include beefing up New Bedford's airport, developing new venture capital funds and economic enterprise zones to stimulate development, strengthening local infrastructure through parks and an aquarium project and infusing state funds directly into local industry.

Robson says those plans are not yet completely developed, and that while Roosevelt has not visited the area recently, he plans a trip "very soon."