GOP electoral proposal spurs radio campaign from advocates of popular vote

Efforts to change the way Pennsylvania’s electoral votes are cast have prompted radio ads from a group that wants the president elected by popular vote.

Instead of giving all of Pennsylvania’s Electoral College votes to one candidate, Republican leaders in Harrisburg want to apportion most of the state’s votes based on how the candidates do in each congressional district.

So instead of winner take all, each candidate would likely earn some votes from the Keystone State.

The advocacy group National Popular Vote has responded with a 10-day radio campaign in the Harrisburg area. It features a 60-second spot aimed at showing the unfairness of the electoral system by envisioning a baseball game in which the Phillies get the most runs but lose the game.

You can hear the spot by clicking on the audio above.

National Popular Vote spokesman Patrick Rosenstiel says electing the president by popular vote is far better than the Pennsylvania Republican plan.

“We think the congressional district system is the wrong idea,” Rosenstiel said. “We believe it takes a bad system and, frankly, makes it worse. National Popular Vote would have Pennsylvania join other states in awarding their electors to the candidate that gets the most popular votes in all 50 states.”

The group is urging states to adopt identical legislation committing all their electoral votes to the candidate winning the national popular vote.

The legislation includes a provision that it won’t take effect until states comprising a majority of the Electoral College approve it.

So far, nine states controlling 132 electoral votes have committed to the plan.