A couple years ago I wrote for the American Academy of Actuaries an article on the Electoral College. It was published in their magazine, Contingencies. I did the simple math to point out that small states who gain from the Electoral College were enough to defeat an amendment against the College in the Senate, and far more than enough to defeat it on ratification.
But, contrary to this article, I did some of the math to show that if District voting were used in all states, not just in Maine and Nebraska, the final election of Presidents would be closer two, though still not identical to, the popular vote model.
Congressman Billybob
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THE JERUSALEM POST Sep. 5, 2004: Hands off the Electoral College
I think the risk that the moderate sized blocks create to a candidate who has the popular vote in-hand is a great benefit to the nation as a whole, as he must maintain a battle in lots of different places, thereby forcing him to appeal to more people. It may not sink him, but if every once in a while it does so, the risk is there, and the individuals in the nation are paid much more heed to.