Gallup Poll: Two-Thirds of Americans Support Death Penalty
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Now, the debate over capital punishment a long-standing one here in the U.S. For more on America's attitudes on the death penalty, we're joined by the Gallup Poll editor-in-chief, Frank Newport, live in Princeton. Frank, good morning.</s>FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP POLL: Good morning, Bill. The bottom line is: two-thirds of Americans support the idea as the death penalty in cases of murder. So, there won't be a lot of protest against the execution you were just talking about in Texas. These numbers have changed over the years. We actually started tracking that at Gallup back in the 1950s and we can show you. The numbers went up and down, particularly in the '60s, when there were no executions for a while, and early '70s. But, by 1994, 80 percent of the public supported the death penalty. Actually, we have seen some slight erosion in our last three surveys and just about a week ago, if you can see: 66 percent, or two- thirds, of Americans say they support the death penalty. Still high, but down a little. Now, we do give people an alternative; that's just a straight question. This is a question where we say: What if the alternative was absolute life with no -- with or without any chance of parole? Still you find 52 percent of Americans support the death penalty in those circumstances. Now, this is what's very interesting. We asked Americans five years ago and just a week or two ago: Is it likely -- I mean, does it happen that innocent people are executed, or at least sentenced to death? Then 82 percent of Americans said yes back five years ago. And when we just asked it, now we've gotten 91 percent of Americans say yes, innocent people do get sentenced to death. And what's important is: Even 90 percent of those who support the death penalty admit that, occasionally, an innocent person does get caught up in the death penalty. So, that's obviously not keeping them from supporting it. Finally, we said: In your own words, why do you support the death penalty? Well, the old biblical: an eye for an eye. Forty percent of the people say it's straight revenge. Those reasons are mentioned much more than deterrent or saving money or some of the others you can see. Bottom line: Two-thirds of Americans support the death penalty. Back to you, Daryn and Bill.</s>HEMMER: All right, Frank, thank you.