Comments on: Friday polls: McCain ahead in Missouri, Obama leads in Michigan http://campaigndiaries.com/2008/08/08/friday-polls-mccain-ahead-in-missouri-obama-leads-in-michigan/ Obsessive political analysis Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:30:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: susan http://campaigndiaries.com/2008/08/08/friday-polls-mccain-ahead-in-missouri-obama-leads-in-michigan/comment-page-1/#comment-3107 susan Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:25:07 +0000 http://campaigndiaries.wordpress.com/?p=1640#comment-3107 The real issue is not how well Obama or McCain might do in the closely divided battleground states, but that we shouldn't have battleground states and spectator states in the first place. Every vote in every state should be politically relevant in a presidential election. And, every vote should be equal. We should have a national popular vote for President in which the White House goes to the candidate who gets the most popular votes in all 50 states. The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). The bill would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the electoral vote -- that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). When the bill comes into effect, all the electoral votes from those states would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). Because of state-by-state enacted rules for winner-take-all awarding of their electoral votes, recent candidates with limited funds have concentrated their attention on a handful of closely divided "battleground" states. In 2004 two-thirds of the visits and money were focused in just six states; 88% on 9 states, and 99% of the money went to just 16 states. Two-thirds of the states and people have been merely spectators to the presidential election. Another shortcoming of the current system is that a candidate can win the Presidency without winning the most popular votes nationwide. The National Popular Vote bill has passed 21 state legislative chambers, including one house in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, North Carolina, and Washington, and both houses in California, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The bill has been enacted by Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland. These four states possess 50 electoral votes — 19% of the 270 necessary to bring the law into effect. See http://www.NationalPopularVote.com The real issue is not how well Obama or McCain might do in the closely divided battleground states, but that we shouldn’t have battleground states and spectator states in the first place. Every vote in every state should be politically relevant in a presidential election. And, every vote should be equal. We should have a national popular vote for President in which the White House goes to the candidate who gets the most popular votes in all 50 states.

The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). The bill would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the electoral vote — that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). When the bill comes into effect, all the electoral votes from those states would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).

Because of state-by-state enacted rules for winner-take-all awarding of their electoral votes, recent candidates with limited funds have concentrated their attention on a handful of closely divided “battleground” states. In 2004 two-thirds of the visits and money were focused in just six states; 88% on 9 states, and 99% of the money went to just 16 states. Two-thirds of the states and people have been merely spectators to the presidential election.

Another shortcoming of the current system is that a candidate can win the Presidency without winning the most popular votes nationwide.

The National Popular Vote bill has passed 21 state legislative chambers, including one house in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, North Carolina, and Washington, and both houses in California, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The bill has been enacted by Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland. These four states possess 50 electoral votes — 19% of the 270 necessary to bring the law into effect.

See http://www.NationalPopularVote.com

]]> By: Guy http://campaigndiaries.com/2008/08/08/friday-polls-mccain-ahead-in-missouri-obama-leads-in-michigan/comment-page-1/#comment-3105 Guy Sat, 09 Aug 2008 22:59:50 +0000 http://campaigndiaries.wordpress.com/?p=1640#comment-3105 I agree - McCain has spent time and money in Michigan and Obama is at 49% (with leaners included). He is in a much better position than the CW of the primaries suggested. Missouri is always listed as a battleground state and yet the GOP always wins it so I would not concentrate on it as much. Any political news will be drowned out by Edwards, the Russia/Georgia war and bombings in China in addition to the Olympics. Great time to go on holiday! I agree - McCain has spent time and money in Michigan and Obama is at 49% (with leaners included). He is in a much better position than the CW of the primaries suggested. Missouri is always listed as a battleground state and yet the GOP always wins it so I would not concentrate on it as much.
Any political news will be drowned out by Edwards, the Russia/Georgia war and bombings in China in addition to the Olympics. Great time to go on holiday!

]]> By: Joe from NC http://campaigndiaries.com/2008/08/08/friday-polls-mccain-ahead-in-missouri-obama-leads-in-michigan/comment-page-1/#comment-3106 Joe from NC Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:34:19 +0000 http://campaigndiaries.wordpress.com/?p=1640#comment-3106 I think the Michigan poll is good news for Obama. Despite McCain's best effort, he only budged the margin a little bit. The results in Missouri could be better, but they're not bad because Obama isn't falling behind by much, and McCain is advertising a lot. I think the Michigan poll is good news for Obama. Despite McCain’s best effort, he only budged the margin a little bit. The results in Missouri could be better, but they’re not bad because Obama isn’t falling behind by much, and McCain is advertising a lot.

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