FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, October 13, 2004

 

CONTACTS:

Sandy Harrison 916/ 731-5428, cell 916/996-2406;

Mark Capitolo 916/ 372-3729, cell 916/267-8894; mark@capitolo.net

NEW FIELD POLL:VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY FAVORPROPOSITION 66, "FIX THREE STRIKES"

Californians are overwhelmingly in favor of enacting common-sense reforms to improve the state's "three strikes" law by decisively passing Proposition 66 on the November 2, ballot, according to a new Field Poll made public today.The poll results showed 65% saying they'll vote for Proposition 66, and only 18% inclined to oppose it. The remaining 17% are undecided. Furthermore, the poll showed that voters favoring the measure clearly understand what it will do, and are familiar with the arguments for and against it. Support for Proposition 66 was sweeping, crossing all political boundaries. Democrats, Republicans and Independents all favored Proposition 66 by huge margins, as did all political ideologies: liberal, middle-of-the-road and conservative.The sweeping, across-the-board support for Proposition 66 prompted poll director Mark DiCamillo to declare the reform measure a virtually certain winner, because of its clear, common-sense message. "Voters are instinctively in favor of this," DiCamillo said. "We've measured it three times, all have overwhelmingly come out on the 'yes' side."Yes on 66 campaign leader Joe Klaas said the results show that voters are well informed about Proposition 66 and understand why its reforms are necessary. "After 10 years, everyone knows about the three strikes law. We all like the very tough sentences for repeat violent offenders. But we want more common sense and fairness in sentences for non-violent, petty offenders, and the huge tax savings that will result," Klaas said."That's why our message is resonating with voters, and the scary and misleading campaign of the opponents is a loser. They can throw all the spooky misinformation at us that they want, and we know there's more to come," said Klaas. "But the people are too smart. It won't work."(end)