can account for the fluctuating support for the death penalty among politicians. The most famous example of politics and the death penalty debate becoming intertwined is that of Michael Dukakis who stated in a presidential debate that he would not support the death penalty even if his wife was murdered. His views are widely considered to have been detrimental to his presidential bid. 19 Four years later Bill Clinton made a point of returning to Arkansas to oversee an execution during his presidential race. 20 At this time also, support for the death penalty among the American public was at its highest levels, largely due to high crime rates. 21 In 1991 New York City witnessed 2,245 murders. However, by 2011 the crime rate dropped by approximately 76 percent, representative of a nationwide trend. 22 This drop in crime coincidentally saw a decline in support for the death penalty, demonstrating how support for the death penalty may be linked both to a fear of crime and to a belief that it offers a solution to deal with high crime rates. Another factor to take into account is that 13 percent of those who supported the death penalty in 1991 cited deterrence as their reason for doing so compared to just 6 percent by 2014. 23 This view is 19 Frank R. Baumgartner, Emily Williams and Kaneesha Johnson , ‘Americans Are Turning against the Death Penalty. Are Politicians Far Behind? ’, Washington Post , 7 December 2015<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey- cage/wp/2015/12/07/americans-are-turning-against-the-death- penalty-are-politicians-far-behind/> [accessed 24 April 2016]. 20 Bamgartner, Williams and Johnson, ‘Americans Are Turning against the Death Penalty. 21 Gallup, ‘ Death Penalty’ . 22 Chris McGreal, ‘America’s Serious Crime Rate Is Plunging, but Why?’, The Guardian, 21 August 2011 <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/aug/21/america-serious- crime-rate-plunging> [accessed 27 April 2016]. 23 Gallup, ‘ Death Penalty’ .
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