The underlying reason for this, also, is that Democrats can cheat more effectively, and easily, in the inner cities. Remember all those 100%, not to mention 105%, turnouts in Miami, Detroit, St. Louis, and Philadelphia in 2000 and 2004, 95% for Gore or Kerry? Those were battleground states where inner city "votes" (e.g., from live, dead, and imaginary voters) were needed to put Dems over the top.
If the Presidential vote were by popular vote only, then the Dems could replicate this very successful strategy in all inner cities in what today are not battleground states: NYC, LA, WDC, Chicago.
Don't know if you're all aware, but for most of the non-contested states in 2000 and 2004, the inner cities were the margin for the Dems carrying the state. Meaning:
* Without Chicago, the GOP takes Illinois.
* Without Milwaukee, GOP takes Wisconsin.
* Without Detroit, the GOP takes Michigan.
* Without Philadelphia, the GOP takes Pennsylvania.
* Without LA and SF, the GOP takes California (!).
NOW you see why the Dems want to abolish the Electoral College?
100+% voter fraud links:
Milwaukee: http://www.dummocrats.com/archives/000927.php
Ohio: http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1115-20.htm
Philadelphia: http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a41f7e24141.htm
Karl Rove in writing and online video: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/013817.php http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/002982.php
Country Mouse versus City Mouse... nothing new.