Poll finds Jerseyans split on death penalty repeal

Source: http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1197440919201690.xml&coll=1

Wednesday, December 12, 2007
BY JOE DONOHUE AND JOSH MARGOLIN
Star-Ledger Staff

One day after the state Senate voted to abolish the death penalty in New Jersey, a poll showed voters oppose that move by a margin of 53 percent to 39 percent.

However, the Quinnipiac University poll also found voters prefer the penalty of life in prison without parole for most people convicted of murder -- by nearly the same margin, 52 percent to 39 percent.

"New Jersey voters are sharply divided over the death penalty," said Clay Richards, assistant director of the poll. "There is no doubt, however, when it comes to the most violent crimes: Most voters want death for serial murders and child killers."

When asked if they would support keeping the death penalty for the most violent cases, 78 percent said yes.

On Monday, the Senate voted 21-16 to replace the death penalty with life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Assembly is slated to vote on the issue tomorrow, and Gov. Jon Corzine supports the bill.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Corzine noted that when vot ers were "asked the straight-up question of life imprisonment without parole, they support that ...

"The public is very divided on this issue and I'm very clear about where I stand. I have been since I ran for political office and I'm not changing it," the governor said.

Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex), who voted in favor of abolishing the death penalty, said: "Clearly society has evolved on the issue."

The Quinnipiac survey also found that Corzine's approval rating has fallen to 46 percent, down from 49 percent in September. The percentage of respondents who said they disapprove of the job he's doing has risen from 40 to 43. Vot ers split evenly (44 percent to 43 percent) on whether Corzine de serves to be re-elected in 2009.

"Midway in his first term, voters are lukewarm about Gov. Jon Corzine and give his performance a mediocre rating. Most just think things have stayed about the same since he took over in Trenton," Richards said.

Corzine dismissed his softening approval ratings.

"I guess I'll have a sleepless night," the governor said. "Poll numbers are all over the place."

The poll was taken between Dec. 5 and 9, surveying 1,085 voters. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.