"Minnesota lawmakers narrowed their focus on electronic pulltabs to fund a new Vikings stadium Thursday night, just hours after Minneapolis officials got a glimpse of the obstacles that remain at the local level.

Lawmakers drafting a stadium bill emerged from a two-hour meeting at a St. Paul restaurant to say they are leaning toward using revenue from electronic pulltabs to pay for the state portion of the project.

"We are absolutely looking toward that direction," said Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont. "There was a very favorable response to charitable gaming."

The consensus is that the other leading funding contender - slot machines at horse-racing tracks - wouldn't get enough support as part of a stadium package, she said.

Group members still had questions about e-pulltabs, Rosen said, but they are clearly the odds-on favorite. They'll meet again next week.

Earlier Thursday, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak got a reminder that some on his own city council aren't keen on his proposal for a new $918 million stadium at the Metrodome site.

He heard objections from at least a half-dozen council members but expressed optimism he could get the package passed. "