POLL IN RHODE ISLAND SHOWS OCEAN STATE HOT FOR THE PATS

          A recent poll suggests that Rhode Islanders "are ready
     to roll out the welcome mat" for the Patriots, according to
     Meg Vaillancourt of the BOSTON GLOBE.  The poll,
     commissioned by Providence Mayor Vincent Cianci, surveyed
     500 registered voters from February 3-5, and was conducted
     by Market Strategies, a MI-based public opinion research
     firm.  It found 73% "support a new stadium" in R.I., while
     10% "opposed it."  The rest were uncertain or had no
     opinion.  The GLOBE's Vaillancourt notes that the Cianci
     poll "mirrors the findings of another sampling" conducted by
     Brown Univ. earlier this month (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/19).