“In a simple question, American voters support the death penalty 58 – 33 percent for persons convicted of murder, according to a Quinnipiac University National Poll released today.

“But when offered a choice between the death penalty or life in prison with no chance of parole, American voters choose the life option 51 – 37 percent, the first time a majority of voters backed the life without parole option since the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll first asked this question in 2004.

“There are deep party and gender divisions as Republicans back the death penalty 59 – 29 percent. Backing the life option are Democrats 73 – 19 percent and independent voters 49 – 37 percent. Women back the life option 56 – 33 percent. Men are divided as 45 percent back the life option and 42 percent support the death penalty.”