Harshbarger says that he would not eliminate the current $900 million bond cap, a major part of the state's rise from near financial chaos.
But he says that the administration's funding priorities must be re-thought.
"I'd much prefer to have 24 leading New Bedford business people meeting with me regularly instead of trying to figure out how to get a casino," Harshbarger says.
Campaign Questions
While most state politicos are counting on a close race, they believe that Harshbarger faces tough odds.
As of March, Harshbarger's campaign committee had $554,975 in the bank while Kennedy, last required to report his balances in December, had $1,247,271 in his federal account.
Beyond his superior fund-raising power and his extensive political organization, many feel that Kennedy has other significant advantages.
When asked if he felt Harshbarger would be able to weather the Kennedy onslaught, one prominent state Democrat wasn't optimistic.
"It's a long haul, but not just for the reasons that most people would say," the Democrat said. "For better or for worse, Joe inspires a lot of passion and Scott doesn't.
But after watching Harshbarger's win the Attorney General's office in 1990, upsetting incumbent Democrat Jim Shannon Kennedy's supporters are not taking the challenge lightly.
"You cannot discount Scott Harshbarger, McGrail says. "You can ask Jim Shannon that and he'll tell you the same thing."
In addition, Weld has not eliminated the possibility of running for a third term in 1998, despite his previous pledges that he would restrict himself to two terms.
And while there are many indications that the gears of the Kennedy machine are already turning, Kennedy maintains that it is too early to begin campaigning.
"There's a time for campaigning and there's a time for governing," Kennedy said after speaking to constituents in Cambridge on Monday.