PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland Mayor Tom Potter said his city won't help finance a stadium for the Florida Marlins, and that most Portlanders probably couldn't care less about landing a major league baseball team.

Potter met Monday with Marlins President David Samson and other team officials, who are touring potential new homes for the struggling franchise.

The mayor said his top priority is instead finding funding for Portland's "crisis in education."

Samson said he wouldn't want the city to neglect education, but said there is no way the Marlins would pay for an entire stadium project.

Samson has said he is committed to keeping the Marlins in South Florida, but must consider exploring other options.

"This is not about leverage," Samson said. "This is about the future of the Marlins."

Portland is the second stop on Samson's tour of potential sites, following San Antonio. Samson said he planned to visit several other cities in the coming months.

Despite winning two World Series, the Marlins have struggled to attract crowds at Dolphins Stadium since their inception in 1993. They can leave after their lease expires in 2007.