Trying to Fix Presidential Elections

[dajoki]

Pa., Neb. Republicans want electoral vote changes
By MARC LEVY, Associated Press – 38 minutes ago
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hRPQ_G-IJFaSDE8_GCJiOov4f5dg?docId=cee727cbbe7e4a5ca3e7a26a903aba68

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republicans in Pennsylvania and Nebraska want to change the way their states award Electoral College votes, moves that could hinder President Barack Obama's re-election chances.

Lawmakers in the Democratic-leaning battleground of Pennsylvania are weighing whether to give the presidential nominees one electoral vote for each congressional district they win, rather than giving all its votes to the candidate who wins the state's popular vote, like Obama did in 2008. In GOP-tilting Nebraska, lawmakers want to go to a winner-take-all system four years after Obama won the 2nd Congressional District and its single electoral college vote.

It takes 270 Electoral College votes to win the presidency out of 538 up for grabs. Every vote matters in a close election and every sign points to a competitive 2012 race as an incumbent Democratic president who most people still personally like tries to win a second term in tough economic times.

"Any electoral vote is important in these elections," said Michael Mezey, a professor of political science at DePaul University in Chicago. "When you start dealing with large states, it can make a difference. And also you're not just dealing with Pennsylvania; other states may follow suit."

The changes Republicans in Pennsylvania and Nebraska are trying to make likely would give the eventual GOP nominee an advantage by shifting the voting power from more liberal, predominantly Democratic cities in both states, to more conservative rural and suburban areas that tend to favor Republicans.

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[slackmaster]

1. So, do we like proportional representation and one person, one vote or not?

:crazy: