R.I. legislators renew call to eliminate Electoral College
10:00 AM Thu, Oct 09, 2008 | Permalink
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With less than a month to go before the November presidential election, legislators have renewed their calls for changes to the Electoral College system, saying it's the best way to increase Rhode Island's relevance in the campaign process. Since the end of the primary season this spring, neither presidential candidate has visited the Ocean State. "Just a couple of states to our north, the campaigns are showering unprecedented attention on New Hampshire's electorate," Sen. Daniel Connors, D-Cumberland, said in a statement. "...a vote in Rhode Island should be worth as much as a vote in a swing state. In a democracy like ours, every vote should be equal." According to figures from FairVote Rhode Island, last week alone, Obama and McCain spent a combined $514,000 on television ads in New Hampshire. During the same period, no money was spent on ads in Rhode Island. Rep. Donald Lally Jr., D-Narragansett, said the state deserves more attention -- and more respect -- on a national stage. This spring, Lally and Connors sponsored legislation that would have allowed Rhode Island, with four electoral votes, to join a national compact of states that commit their electoral delegates to the winner of the national popular vote, regardless of who carries each state. The measure would kick in only if states representing a majority of the nation's 538 electoral votes decide to make the same change. The bill passed the General Assembly, but was vetoed by Governor Carcieri. "This isn't the John McCain or Barack Obama's fault," said Matt Sledge, director of FairVote Rhode Island. "This is the result of perverse incentives the current Electoral College system creates to ignore the majority of American voters." 
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NH GETS ATTENTION AND RI DOES'T? SAME ELECTORAL VOTES. THE FACT IS RI IS THE MOST DEMOCRAT STATE IN THE COUNTRY. WHY BOTHER VISITING US. ITS SAFE OBAMA. IN A CLOSE ELECTION WE COULD MATTER. YOU JUST WANT TO BE A MEMBER OF THE LARGE FAR LEFT STATES WHO WOULD NAME THE PRESIDENT. NY CA IL ... VERY BAD IDEA.
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NH GETS ATTENTION AND RI DOES'T? SAME ELECTORAL VOTES. THE FACT IS RI IS THE MOST DEMOCRAT STATE IN THE COUNTRY. WHY BOTHER VISITING US. ITS SAFE OBAMA. IN A CLOSE ELECTION WE COULD MATTER. YOU JUST WANT TO BE A MEMBER OF THE LARGE FAR LEFT STATES WHO WOULD NAME THE PRESIDENT. NY CA IL ... VERY BAD IDEA.
Report Abuse
NH GETS ATTENTION AND RI DOES'T? SAME ELECTORAL VOTES. THE FACT IS RI IS THE MOST DEMOCRAT STATE IN THE COUNTRY. WHY BOTHER VISITING US. ITS SAFE OBAMA. IN A CLOSE ELECTION WE COULD MATTER. YOU JUST WANT TO BE A MEMBER OF THE LARGE FAR LEFT STATES WHO WOULD NAME THE PRESIDENT. NY CA IL ... VERY BAD IDEA.
Report Abuse
NH GETS ATTENTION AND RI DOES'T? SAME ELECTORAL VOTES. THE FACT IS RI IS THE MOST DEMOCRAT STATE IN THE COUNTRY. WHY BOTHER VISITING US. ITS SAFE OBAMA. IN A CLOSE ELECTION WE COULD MATTER. YOU JUST WANT TO BE A MEMBER OF THE LARGE FAR LEFT STATES WHO WOULD NAME THE PRESIDENT. NY CA IL ... VERY BAD IDEA.
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