Scott Elliott over at Election Projection explains the folly of a Colorado ballot initiative that would divide the state's electoral college votes according to the percentage of popular vote garnered by each candidate. In other words, it would no longer be a winner-take-all state, reducing the state's effective electoral votes from 9 to just 1.
Hey Colorado: pass the initiative and watch the candidates stay away in droves.
The devil's in the details, my friend. How would you suggest Colorado handle what is basically unilateral disarmament in a room full of armed-to-the-teeth combatants?
Actually, it's not as difficult as it sounds. The first step is NOT trying to accomplish it in a presidential election year. That would be folly at best. After the election you draft legislation stating that the electoral votes will be divided representative of the voting populous and any percentage of an electoral vote left over goes to the leading candidate. In the case of a tie, and a divided percentage, the percentage vote goes in favor of the party controlling the state senate, or the Governor.
Main point - don't do this during an election year, but this is a step in the right direction.
Hey, I am all for Colorado doing this. California, too. And New York and Michigan and Illinois and every other state ... except Ohio. I'll love it when we're the last winner-takes-all state.
But then, this wouldn't surprise you when you know my perspective.
The entire electoral college is due for an over-haul and this could be a step in the right direction if handled correctly.
Currently only two states, Nebraska and Maine, have provisions for dividing its electoral votes. If this were done across the board in smart fashion it would force candidates to pay attention to all states. There would no longer be any 'shoe-in' states for a particular party and each candidate would have to target his monies and message accordingly.