Would you prefer using the Popular Vote or the Electoral College Vote to elect the President?

The Gallup Organization conducted a poll recently to determine whether Americans would prefer to elect their President via the popular vote, or via the electoral college vote. The total numbers show that the general population would prefer to elect the President using the popular vote by a margin of 61% to 35%.

Meanwhile, Republicans would prefer using the electoral college vote by a margin of 51% to 46%, Democrats favor the popular vote by a margin of 73% to 23%, and Independents favor using the popular vote by a margin of 66% to 29%. These results are currently posted on the front page of the Gallup website.

In my personal opinion, being the Democrat/Liberal that I am, I favor the electoral college vote. I believe that the electoral college helps to offset the overwhelming population numbers of states like New York, California, and Texas. Although those states get more electoral votes, those states alone cannot decide the Presidential election. Do we really believe that if the Presidential election were decided by popular vote that either of the candidates would spend any time at all in states like Iowa (except maybe for the caucuses in January), Missouri, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, Vermont, Virginia, or the Carolinas? Why would they really need to? All one candidate would have to accomplish would be to swing 65-70% of the population of New York, New Jersey, Texas, California, Illinois, and Florida his/her way. Keep in mind that at this early hour, I have not laid out a map and calculated precise figures, but I imagine that I will indeed do that in the coming days. In the meantime, let me hear some arguments in opposition to the electoral college.

If we really want to overhaul the Presidential election process, here's my take on it. I believe that the minority party in the House of Representatives should get to choose three candidates from their party (Senators, governors, business leaders, etc) as nominees to run unopposed by the majority party in the House. The populace would then vote on their choice of these three candidates, thus assuring that the legislative branch and the executive branch are not controlled by the same party. It is my opinion that our country operates more soundly when the executive and legislative branches are not completely in sync. Of course, I think third party candidates should be allowed to participate in the general election against the three House-minority candidates. This process would alter much of the fundraising issues that we currently observe, and would offer third parties a greater voice in the election process.

Just my two cents worth. VOTE KERRY!!