Meanwhile back on planet earth both Gov. McDonnell and VA GOP Gov candidate Cuccinelli are opposed to the plan. Sell crazy elsewhere.
Crazy? The Constitution allows states to allocate their electoral votes anyway they want. Two, Maine and Nebraska, don't have a winner take all system. The GOP would be wise in the state of Virginia to do the same.
McDonnell is by no means a conservative. He has taken positions that try to appeal to the "middle" in order to further his future political ambitions. Two efforts that I have been involved with at the state level and dealing with the General Assembly, photo ID to vote and e-verify, McDonnell has been a stumbling block. He has also proposed a major tax increase to fund transportation.
Cuccinelli is running for governor this year. He is not going to support something that might cost him votes. The Dems will make it a big issue to rally their forces in an election that will be held in a non-Presidental year. He will be demonized for many other things, so he is not about to add to it. If we allocate electoral votes by Cong. Dist and give the two Senate ones to the candidate that wins the most Congressional districts, Romney would have won 10 of VA's 13 electoral votes.
The Democrats have been pushing nationally for direct election of a President and have supported efforts to circumvent the Constitution with state compacts. It is called National Popular Vote. Nine state legislatures and governors have signed on comprising 132 electoral votes.
The Reps are fools. They have refused to fight the Dems using the same methods being used against them. Now that is crazy.
"Crazy" is a bit too harsh. Wanting to game the system instead of persuading voters is lazy, but it isn't crazy. Fortunately, this idea has dissipated into the hazy background before the GOP got too severely tarred.