But not all New Bedford residents are thankful for Roosevelt's promises.

"The thing with Mark Roosevelt that has upset people in this area is his attitude that 'you listen to me, I know better than you,'" Gerwatowski says. "Do we want to see casinos go all over Massachusetts? Of course we don't. We're saying it can provide immediately needed jobs."

On Fairness

As though the casino plan didn't face enough opposition, some other municipalities have objected that their cities are at least as financially strapped as New Bedford. In Chelsea, for example, a shortage of funds recently forced the city to bring in Boston University to run its public schools. Officials there have complained that giving New Bedford the sole right to build a casino is unfair.

The Wampanoags--who live nowhere near Chelsea or other disgruntled towns--do not see it that way.

"Fair? Give me a break. How much money have Native Americans gotten or the Aquinnah Wampanoags for giving up all of Massachusetts?" Madison says. "What is fair is that we have been given the right to operate under existing federal law."

"Fair has damn little to do with it," he says. "If fair had anything to do with it, there wouldn't be an outcry every time American Indians try to pull themselves out of the gutter."

A Weld Defeat?

Other communities aside, the whole question may be moot if Roosevelt is elected. In a sense, the whole future of the Wampanoag tribe may be riding on what Massachusetts voters decide November 8.

Roosevelt, like some tribal and city leaders, does not believe the casino would help the community. Indeed, he sees many dangers.

"If Bill Weld gets his way, we'll see increased crime, we'll see domestic violence, we'll see the failure of legitimate businesses," Roosevelt said after his primary victory.

But tribal leaders have barely considered what might happen if Roosevelt defies the odds and upsets Weld. Widdiss recalls a tribal council meeting two weeks ago at which the leaders were asked what would happen if Weld lost the race.

"You could have heard a pin drop," Widdiss says. "They had not thought of talking to Mark Roosevelt."

And conversely, Madison says, Roosevelt has not consulted the tribe, despite their central role as the potential builders of the casino.

"Roosevelt? Speak to the Indians? Excuse me, what's wrong with that picture?" Madison says. "Why would he lower himself to speak to the Native Americans?"