U.S. executions have in the past and continue to be an undeniably important element in vetting political candidates. Similar to the politics of abortion, the political theatre surrounding the death penalty has been decisive, acted as both a vehicle and an obstacle for office seekers, and in several cases functioned as an exclusionary mechanism for presidential hopefuls. The death penalty has claimed over 1100 lives since its reinstatement in 1976, but at the same the symbolism of capital punishment has changed the history of the nation.