Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri (R) has refused a newspaper's invitation to discuss the Narragansett Tribe's proposed casino.

The Pawtucket Times invited Carcieri and Harrah's Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman to an "informational conversation" about the casino. Harrah's accepted immediately but Carcieri waited a week to say he won't show up.

Carcieri has repeatedly spoken against the casino. But his spokesperson said there was no need to attend the debate because the casino is doing poorly in the polls.

A slight majority of likely voters are against the casino, according to a recent poll. Only 37 percent support it.

The tribe has partnered with Harrah's Entertainment to build a casino in the town of West Warwick. They are asking voters to amend the state constitution to authorize the project.

Get the Story:
Gov. ducks Harrah's (The Pawtucket Times 10/20)
Chief: Casino foes mislead the voters (The Providence Journal 10/20)
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