Colorado voters say 69 - 24 percent that the death penalty should stay on the books and not be replaced by life in prison with no chance of parole, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. At the same time, Gov. John Hickenlooper finds himself running neck and neck with possible challengers in the 2014 governor's race.
Voters disapprove 67 - 27 percent of Gov. Hickenlooper's decision to grant convicted murderer Nathan Dunlap a reprieve, and 74 percent say the death penalty will be "very important" or "somewhat important" in their vote for governor next year, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
Women want to continue the death penalty 63 - 27 percent, while men support continuation 75 - 21 percent. Support for keeping the death penalty is 87 - 11 percent among Republicans and 73 - 21 percent among independent voters, while Democrats say 49 - 41 percent switch to life in prison without parole.
More than 70 percent of Protestant and Catholic voters support the death penalty.
The death penalty is applied fairly in Colorado, voters say 53 - 27 percent, but is does not deter others from committing murder, voters say 57 - 38 percent.
"By nearly 3-1, Colorado voters support the death penalty in their state and say where their elected officials stand on it could affect their vote," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"This could set up a high-voltage reelection campaign where the fate of a convicted murderer could help decide the fate of an incumbent governor."
Colorado voters say 63 - 29 percent that Dunlap should face the death penalty, and support the death penalty for Aurora movie theater shooter James Holmes 67 - 26 percent.
"With scant likelihood Colorado will see an execution during the Hickenlooper governorship, Coloradans strongly support executing Nathan Dunlap and James Holmes," Malloy said.
Governor's Race
At this point, the 2014 Colorado governor's race is too close to call, with 42 percent for Democratic Gov. Hickenlooper and 41 percent for former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, a possible Republican challenger.
In other possible matchups, Hickenlooper gets 42 percent to 40 percent for Secretary of State Scott Gessler, and gets 43 percent to 37 percent for State Sen. Greg Brophy.
By a slim 47 - 43 percent margin, Colorado voters approve of the job Hickenlooper is doing. Voters are divided 45 - 44 percent on whether he deserves reelection. Voters also are divided in their opinion of the governor, with 45 percent favorable to 42 percent unfavorable.
Tancredo gets a split 32 - 29 percent favorability with 37 percent who haven't heard enough about him to form an opinion.
For Gessler, 74 percent don't know enough to form an opinion. Brophy gets an 86 percent 'don't know.'
From June 5 - 10, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,065 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-and-centers/polling-institute/colorado/release-detail?ReleaseID=1907
