PUBLIC OPINION NOT ON THE PATS' SIDE IN STADIUM QUEST

          A new poll shows that MA voters "oppose spending tax
     dollars" to help the Patriots in their "quest to renovate
     Foxboro Stadium," by a ratio of more than 2 to 1, according
     to Scot Lehigh of the BOSTON GLOBE.  The survey of 530
     registered voters, conducted October 4-8, was commissioned
     by Suffolk Univ.'s Beacon Hill Institute, and conducted by
     Clark Univ.'s Public Affairs Research Center.  It has a
     margin of error of +/- 4%.  The survey noted that the State
     Legislature "was debating" whether to issue state-backed
     bonds, which "may cost taxpayers as much as" $80M to help
     the Patriots renovate Foxboro Stadium.  Data showed that 63%
     of respondents opposed "such a public expense, compared to"
     30% who favored it; 7% "were unsure or had no opinion." 
     Patriots VP/Communications Don Lowery dismissed the poll,
     saying "it failed to provide respondents even basic
     information on the proposal" that (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/12).