north carolina leaning towards ending winner take all

[ChrisdemW]

http://www.newsobserver.com/1565/story/650684.html

N.C. near to shelving winner-take-all for electoral votes

RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina appears headed to becoming the third state in the nation to abandon the winner-take-all method for awarding its electoral votes as the House tentatively agreed Thursday to shelve the method.
In its place, according to the measure approved on a largely party-line vote, would be a more proportional method that would reward the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in each of the state's congressional districts.

The Senate already has passed the meaure, which would take effect in 2008. A final House vote could come Friday, then the bill would go to Gov. Mike Easley, a Democrat, just like the majority in the Legislature, which has backed the change. The state Democratic Party also supports it.

Republicans called the change a cheap way to give Democrats, who have been shut out in North Carolina since 1980, some electoral votes.

"This is clearly a partisan bill. There's no question about that," said Rep. Leo Daughtry, R-Johnston. "You've got to change the law to make it an advantage."

A candidate would get one electoral vote for each congressional district he or she carries. The candidate who wins statewide would take the remaining two votes.....

[mwooldri]

1. Why would the Republicans be against this?

It would mean that the Democratic Party would have to invest some money in NC. It'd be money that would be spent here advertising the Democratic message rather than ignoring us when it comes to the Presidential race.

In short: it puts NC in play for Presidential votes.

Mark.

[wildeyed]

2. I just heard about this bill a few weeks ago.

Excellent idea, hope it passes.

[ChrisdemW]

3. I hope this passes its more democratic

also I think you wont be as effective rigging the presidential election if this gets in place in all states

[struggle4progress]

4. Right general idea -- but the specifics would be a nightmare if adopted nationally because

it would be almost impossible to obtain a Congress that opposed the President

[obxhead]

5. The truth is..

NC is becoming a blue state. The northern liberal loot is moving south. Change is coming, much too slow, but it is coming.