CNN political race coverage: on Crime

George W. Bush: Use DNA evidence for death penalty cases

"It's a case where we're dealing with the man's innocence or guilt," Bush said. His recent comments reflect a new sensibility from just a few months ago, when he stated emphatically: "There's no doubt in my mind that each person who has been executed in our state was guilty of the crime committed." Bush has not yet spared any death row inmate, and in 1998 rejected a direct plea from the Vatican to spare the life of Karla Fay Tucker, who became the first woman put to death in Texas since the Civil War.

George W. Bush: Bush grants 30-day death row reprieve for first time

Bush has never before granted a 30-day stay of execution Since Bush has been governor, 131 people have been executed - - 129 men and two women. Bush has been questioned repeatedly on the campaign trail about the Texas execution record and has responded that he believes no innocent person has been put to death.

George W. Bush: Tough love means consequences for committing crimes

Jesse Ventura: Presidential pardons: if you don't like it change the system

VENTURA: I think you need to look at the system. The president didn't really do anything wrong because our system allows him to pardon anybody. He could pardon Charles Manson if he so chose to do so. The president is given that much leeway to do it. President Clinton isn't the first one to pardon a controversial figure. Many, many presidents have done it. If you don't like the system, change the system.

Q: Would you change it?

VENTURA: Yes, I probably would. I think that it should go to more than one person to have that ability. You know, maybe possibly you would look at bringing in the chief justice of the Supreme Court and maybe the attorney general or whatever. I think maybe if you had three elected people or three different people, it might work a little better. But then again, I'm not at the federal level, so I might be out of line, too, in saying that.