FIRST AND GOAL? CARDS MAY BE CLOSING IN ON STADIUM DEAL

          The news was "better" yesterday for supporters of the
     Cardinals' Prop. 302 stadium plan, but with more than
     100,000 ballots still uncounted from this week's referendum,
     the "party hats and champagne will stay stashed in the
     corner at least until next week," according to Shaun
     McKinnon of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC.  With the first "batch of
     last-minute" mail-in ballots tabulated, Prop. 302 gained
     votes and picked up a full percentage point and now leads
     52%-48%, with 387,966 in favor and 365,232 opposed.  Stadium
     proponents "don't expect the final" results of Prop. 302 to
     change because the yes votes have "led throughout the
     tallying process" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/10).