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THE ISSUE: DEATH PENALTY

Hillary Clinton

• Has been a long-time advocate of the death penalty. • As first lady, lobbied lawmakers to support her husband's expansion of the federal death penalty. • As senator, co-sponsored law that requires and helps pay for DNA testing for people sentenced to death under federal law. Clinton's bio, campaign coverage

Mike Gravel

• Has long believed capital punishment should be outlawed. Called for end to the death penalty in his book "Citizen Power." Gravel's bio, campaign coverage

Mike Huckabee

• Supported executions as governor, but described them as the worst part of the job. "I carried out the death penalty 16 times, more than any other governor in my state's history," he said in a 2005 interview, "and it is not something I'm proud of." Huckabee's bio, campaign coverage

Alan Keyes

• Supports death penalty. Says there are "certain circumstances in which the death penalty is in fact essential to our respect for life." • Has said capital punishment "is part of educating people that there's an absolute line you shouldn't cross." More from Keyes's website Keyes's bio, campaign coverage

John McCain

• Supports the death penalty for federal crimes. As senator, voted to limit death penalty appeals by prohibiting the use of racial statistics. • As senator, voted to ban the death penalty for minors. • Supported expansion of the death penalty to cases involving terrorism, and has said he would consider further expansion for other crimes. McCain's bio, campaign coverage

Ron Paul

• Opposed to federal death penalty, which he believes is applied unfairly. Originally supported it, but changed his mind because he says too many prisoners are sent to death row by mistake. Paul's bio, campaign coverage