A new field poll shows continued strong support for the death penalty in California, 70-24 on the basic question. Bob Egelko has this story in the SF Chron, and Michael Gardner has this story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Nationwide over the last several years, when the question is badly worded to ask whether voters favor death or LWOP for first-degree murder, implying they must choose a single punishment for all murders, they split down the middle. Today's poll as reported in the news stories appears to be consistent with this trend as well. I will post the exact wording of the question when it is available on Field's site.
The other side loves to crow that they actually pull even on this question. I find it revealing that they can't get a clear majority even when the wording is skewed to the max in their favor.
Nationwide over the last several years, when the question is badly worded to ask whether voters favor death or LWOP for first-degree murder, implying they must choose a single punishment for all murders, they split down the middle. Today's poll as reported in the news stories appears to be consistent with this trend as well. I will post the exact wording of the question when it is available on Field's site.
The other side loves to crow that they actually pull even on this question. I find it revealing that they can't get a clear majority even when the wording is skewed to the max in their favor.
Leave a comment