Support for Ryan's moratorium remains high

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Although Illinoisans disapprove of Gov. George Ryan overall, a poll shows that support for his halt to state-sponsored executions remains high.

The poll of 814 Illinois residents showed 68.3 percent approve of Ryan's death penalty moratorium, which he declared in January 2000 after 13 people were freed from death row because of mistakes in their cases.

The first-term Republican is not running for re-election this fall largely because of a bribes-for-licenses scandal that occurred while he was secretary of state. Ryan has not been implicated in the federal probe.

Ryan has enjoyed celebrity status internationally among death penalty opponents for the moratorium, during which he appointed a commission that last spring recommended dozens of changes in the death penalty law to improve its accuracy.

At home the issue has divided Republicans -- the poll showed 26.1 percent oppose it -- but remains generally popular. Most respondents in the poll, which has a margin of error of 3.5 percent, also indicated the issue was either "important" or "very important" in choosing a political candidate.