  A multivariate polynomial is stable if it is non-vanishing whenever all
variables have positive imaginary parts. A matroid has the weak half-plane
property (WHPP) if there exists a stable polynomial with support equal to the
set of bases of the matroid. If the polynomial can be chosen with all of its
nonzero coefficients equal to one then the matroid has the half-plane property
(HPP). We describe a systematic method that allows us to reduce the WHPP to the
HPP for large families of matroids. This method makes use of the Tutte group of
a matroid. We prove that no projective geometry has the WHPP and that a binary
matroid has the WHPP if and only if it is regular. We also prove that T_8 and
R_9 fail to have the WHPP.
