Support for former Boston Mayor Raymond L. Flynn's possible gubernatorial campaign is eroding, according to a Boston Herald poll released Monday.

With a 42 percent unfavorable rating in the poll, Flynn received higher negative ratings than any of the currently declared gubernatorial candidates. Of the 425 voters polled, only 27 percent said they had a favorable opinion of Flynn.

Governor William F. Weld '66 demonstrated the highest popularity, receiving a 57 percent favorable opinion in the poll. Twenty-three percent had an unfavorable opinion of Weld.

Flynn, currently Ambassador to the Vatican, has been considering whether to run for Governor for the past several months. Recent reports have indicated that he will likely announce his candidacy soon.

The Boston Globe reported yesterday that Flynn left a message on the answering machine of Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Joseph Faherty last weekend, saying he was "willing to do it all the way."

In the reported message Flynn also said he expected the support of U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) in his primary campaign, according to the Globe.

But Kerry spokesperson Chris Greeley told The Crimson that the Senator never promised to endorse Flynn.

"Mayor Flynn didn't ask John Ker- ry for any support," Greeley said. "John Kerryhas traditionally not fought in [gubernatorial]primary fights."

Greeley said Kerry will help whoever wins theDemocratic gubernatorial nomination.

Now State Department officials are reportedlyinvestigating whether Flynn broke a law by callingFaherty.

Under the Hatch Act, some federal workers arenot allowed to participate in public politicalactivity.

According to the Associated Press, a StateDepartment spokesperson called the message "a grayarea" and said the department "will have to lookat" whether Flynn violated the Hatch Act.

Raymond F. Dooley, Flynn's chief politicalstrategist, was not available for commentyesterday.

On the Democratic Front

Among Democratic gubernatorial candidates,former State Sen. George Bachrach (D-Watertown)has a 13 percent favorable rating and a 19 percentunfavorable rating; State Rep. Mark Roosevelt '78(D-Beacon Hill) had an 11 percent favorable ratingand a 24 percent unfavorable rating; and stateSen. Michael J. Barrett '70(D-Cambridge) had a 8percent favorable rating and a 11 percentunfavorable rating.

Liz Belkin, spokesperson for Bachrach, said thepoll results were well-received by the formersenator.