U.S.: Majority of Voters Claim Presidential Candidate Opinion on the Death Penalty is ‘Very Important’

According to a new IFC poll, there is overwhelming support for the death penalty across political parties, with the majority of voters claiming that Presidential candidate opinion on the death penalty is "very important." Additionally, only 12% of Americans felt the death penalty would be abolished in the US in the near future. Here is a link to the poll results.

Also, IFC will premiere the original documentary At the Death House Door tomorrow, which will provide viewers with an intimate look at the death penalty in Texas. We also have the trailer/clips from At The Death House Door available for posting. The New York Times did a story on At the Death House Door.

New York, NY – May 27, 2008 – On the heels of the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the constitutionality of lethal injection (Baze v. Rees), IFC and E-Poll Market Research announced today the results of a new independent poll examining American voters’ attitudes towards the death penalty, and the significance of the death penalty as a key issue in the upcoming election. The national poll was conducted for IFC by the network’s political polling partner, E-Poll Market Research, as part of IFC’s year-long “Election Coverage for the Rest of Us” campaign. Among other results, the poll revealed overwhelming support for the death penalty across political parties, with the majority of voters claiming that Presidential candidate opinion on the death penalty is “very important.” In addition, only 12% of Americans felt the death penalty would be abolished in the United States in the near future.

The network will also premiere the original documentary At the Death House Door, which will provide viewers with an intimate look at the death penalty in Texas, May 29.

IFC’s recently launched “Election Coverage for the Rest of Us” is a comprehensive multiplatform initiative that is part of the network’s expanding News division and overall focus on being the voice of independent culture and thought. Leading up to the ’08 Presidential Election, IFC News will help viewers deconstruct American politics and the electoral process; showcase key stories, issues and events from popular and political culture and highlight the role of independent thought within the political landscape through a series of political polls fielded by its partner, E-Poll Market Research, and exclusive specials.

“Our poll shows that the death penalty is an important, but thorny issue. Popular support for the death penalty remains remarkably strong, and the clear majority of voters say it is a ‘very important’ issue in the coming Presidential campaign," said Evan Shapiro, General Manager of IFC. "However, it seems there may be a connection between so called 'sanctity of life' issues, and that they contain some potentially unforeseen land mines for Presidential and Congressional candidates.”

“58% of voters say they ‘totally/somewhat agree’ that the death penalty is very important for Presidential candidates, and 75% say they ‘totally/somewhat’ agree that abortion is very important. However, 45% ‘totally/somewhat’ disagree that it makes sense for a candidate to be both pro-life and pro death penalty, and 58% see an inherent contradiction between being both pro-abortion and anti death penalty. This contradiction is especially apparent among Democrats and Independents, giving Democrats and Republicans something to think about as they move into more moderate states and the general election.”

The following poll questions were among those asked of registered voters to gauge their views on the death penalty, and its potential role as a key issue in the upcoming Presidential election:

1.) Are you in favor of the death penalty for a person convicted for murder?

• IN FAVOR:
• Total Respondents: 73%
• Republicans: 85%
• Democrats: 65%
• Independent/not-affiliated: 73%

2.) Presidential Candidate opinion about the death penalty is very important to me.

• AGREE (Totally/Somewhat agree):
• Total Respondents: 58%
• Republicans: 63%
• Democrats: 58%
• Independent/not-affiliated: 52%

3.) Presidential Candidate opinion about abortion is very important to me.

• AGREE (Totally/Somewhat agree):
• Total Respondents: 75%
• Republicans: 78%
• Democrats: 77%
• Independent/not-affiliated: 69%

4.) It makes sense for a Presidential Candidate to be both for the death penalty and against abortion.

• AGREE (Totally/Somewhat agree):
• Total Respondents: 55%
• Republicans: 68%
• Democrats: 45%
• Independent/not-affiliated: 53%

5.) It makes sense for a Presidential Candidate to be both for abortion and against the death penalty.

• AGREE (Totally/Somewhat agree):
• Total Respondents: 42%
• Republicans: 30%
• Democrats: 49%
• Independent/not-affiliated: 44%

6.) Abortion and the Death Penalty are two separate issues and cannot be connected (Agree or Disagree)

• AGREE (Totally/Somewhat agree):
• Total Respondents: 82%
• Republicans: 82%
• Democrats: 82%
• Independent/not-affiliated: 80%

7.) 91% of all known executions in the world take place in Iran, Iraq, China, Sudan, Pakistan, and the USA. Does that lessen your support for the Death Penalty? (asked among those who are in favor of the Death Penalty ONLY)

• YES:
• Total Respondents: 8%
• Republicans: 5%
• Democrats: 13%
• Independent/not-affiliated: 7%

8.) Based on the below statements, do you think that the death penalty is going to be abolished in the U.S. in the near future?

- New Jersey abolished the death penalty.

- Over 100 people released from death row after they were exonerated.

- 91% of all known executions in the world take place in Iran, Iraq, China, Sudan, Pakistan and the

USA.

- The Supreme Court reviewed the issue of lethal injection

- 60% of all American executions in 2007 were in Texas in 2007.

- 36 States still have the Death penalty.

• YES:
• Total Respondents: 12%
• Republicans: 11%
• Democrats: 15%
• Independent/not-affiliated: 10%

E-Poll randomly selected qualified respondents from their nationwide proprietary panel to participate in an online survey. IFC designed the questionnaire, with input from E-Poll Market Research. E-Poll conducted the survey which was fielded from May 15-18. There were a total of N=1,211 completed surveys meeting all demographic and screening criteria. A total of N=1,211 completes yields a margin of error of + 3%.

About IFC

IFC (The Independent Film Channel) is the first and only network dedicated to independent film and related programming, 24 hours a day, uncut and uncensored. Operating under the mantra 'always, uncut,' IFC presents feature-length films, "cult classics," thought-provoking original documentaries such as At the Death House Door and This Film Is Not Yet Rated, shorts, animated series, exclusive web series, and television's most comprehensive independent film library. The network also offers some of the most innovative and edgy original series on television, including the sketch comedy "The Whitest Kids U' Know." Providing a voice for independent thought not found anywhere else on television, IFC broadens the audience for independent film and supports the independent film community through its exclusive live coverage of notable film events like the Independent Spirit Awards. The network's On Demand offering, IFC Free, gives audiences the opportunity to watch premieres of all of IFC's original series in HD before they air on the linear network. IFC is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.

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Source: IFC