Columnists

Electoral College is good for Democrats, not Republicans

By Steve Chapman
Published November 14, 2012 5:00am ET
Add Washington Examiner on Google
Electoral College is good for Democrats, not Republicans
FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2012, file photo, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign event at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H. Romney is telling top donors that President Barack Obama won re-election because of the "gifts" he had already provided to blacks, Hispanics and young voters. Romney also cites as a reason for his loss the president's effort to paint Romney as anti-immigrant. In a call Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, to those donors, Romney said Obama's campaign focused on giving targeted groups what he called "a big gift" while his campaign had been about, in his words, "big issues for the whole country." (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) | David Goldman

n 2000, conservatives were obligated to explain why they supported preservation of the Electoral College even though it produced a victory for their candidate, George W. Bush. In coming elections, their devotion may face a sterner test: Will they favor it if Democrats win the White House even when Republicans carry the popular vote?

Mitt Romney managed to avoid that problem by coming up short across the board. But while Republicans have noticed that the voting public is changing in ways that don’t help the GOP, they may not have noticed that the electoral map has also shifted to their clear disadvantage.

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.

Tag:

Steve Chapman