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Opinion
May. 28, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: Why the candidates are in the West

We can thank the 'archaic' Electoral College

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain is scheduled to conduct a "town hall meeting" in Reno today.

Yesterday, prior to his own town hall meeting at the Cheyenne Avenue campus of the College of Southern Nevada, Democratic front-runner Barack Obama dropped by the downtown Las Vegas home of Felicitas Rosel and Francisco Cano, who voiced concern they may not be able to afford increasing payments for the home they bought three years ago with an adjustable-rate mortgage.

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    • (The Illinois senator touted pending legislation that would offer incentives to refinance mortgages through the Federal Housing Administration, though he added a predictable call for more government oversight of the industry. Sen. Obama contended that, while such mortgages were being issued, "Nobody was watching" the banks, an assertion that might surprise those faced with the pile of government-required disclosure forms which government-chartered banks have long been required to present to borrowers.)

    The question at hand, though, is what the candidates are doing here, at all.

    Together, New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado account for only 19 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House. But those votes could be vital in a close race, and both parties consider the states to be "in play," after President Bush edged Democrat John Kerry four years ago by only 49.84 percent to 49.05 percent in New Mexico.

    The president's margins were only slightly wider in Nevada (50.5 to 47.9) and Colorado (51.7 to 47.)

    So Sen. Obama visited all three states over the long holiday weekend, hoping that anger with President Bush, as well as changing demographics caused by blue-collar service workers moving to the region, will nudge the states into the Democratic column.

    "We're going to fight as hard as we can in these states. We want to send the message now that we're going to go after them, and I expect to win them," Sen. Obama said Monday.

    Sen. McCain responded Monday that Obama "has no experience, no knowledge or background" on Western issues. "I believe as a Western senator I understand the issues, the challenges of the future for these ... states," the Arizona senator told The Associated Press.

    Unstated in all this is the way such mathematics bear out the wisdom of the Founding Fathers in establishing the Electoral College, in the first place.

    If presidents were elected "at large" by a straight majority of the national popular vote, it's unlikely the concerns of a few thousand Westerners would draw much more than the occasional bulk-mailed flier.

    The real electoral battle would be for major population centers in California and east of the Mississippi, where the campaigns -- even more than is already the case -- would likely turn into huge potlatches, the candidates viewing the rural states as little more than cash drawers, suffering silently as the parties poured their looted largess into the vote-heavy cities.

    Make no mistake, the candidates are here, asking what concerns residents of the rural West, only because Americans cast their presidential ballots state by state.

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    Brian wrote on May 28, 2008 10:44 PM: To those wondering if Obama can win mountain states - the answer is yes.

    Colorado for one is in a state of transition from Republican to moderate Democrat, with a progressive, pragmatic mentality. Just a few years ago we had a Republican Governor and two Republican Senators (Bill Owens, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Wayne Allard), and today we have a new very popular and effective Democrat Governor (Bill Ritter), one Democrat Senator in office (Ken Salazar), and most likely a second Democrat Senator in November (Mark Udall, currently a US congressman). In the Colorado caucuses, Obama got 75% of the delegates.

    Clearly the door is swinging the other way.


    Steve wrote on May 28, 2008 06:21 PM: Wild Bill,

    Your family tree may have branches in it, but I see a LOT of tree rot. I hate to get into a battle of wits with a completely unarmed person, so this will be my last response to you. You should learn to read the articles (or have someone read them to you) before you post so your ignorance doesn't show so badly.


    Wild Bill wrote on May 28, 2008 03:41 PM: Steve,

    You're the ignoramus who believes the American press to be literate, objective and have a world view.

    Americans are dumb and ignorant and you are at the top of the dumb and ignorant heap (right below your parents).

    Hey, at least my family tree has branches in it! (let me guess, you're bald, too).....


    Steve wrote on May 28, 2008 10:56 AM: Wild Bill,

    You stated: "Oh, wait; there is the passive-aggressive quote that Senator Obama "has no experience, no knowledge or background" on Western issues." That is not the RJ's statement. That was a quote from a comment made by McCain. The RJ was just printing a quote. You should stop right now and go smack your parents for letting you grow up so stupid...not ignorant... stupid!


    John F wrote on May 28, 2008 08:53 AM: "our founding fathers ...wanted the smaller states to have a voice and not let the elitists in major population centers have all the say."

    Elitists in the major population centers in 1789???

    The elite were the landed gentry. People like Jefferson. You had to own land then even to vote. Someone renting a room in a Philadelphia boarding house couldn't cast a ballot.

    The electoral college was instituted to protect the interests of the smaller states, yes, but not because of some sort of fear of being controlled by an urban elite.


    Fausto wrote on May 28, 2008 08:15 AM: "And, supposing Obama were Muslim, what would that have to do with anything?"

    And, supposing Obama sat through 20+ years of services by Reverend Wright (his spiritual leader) and heard all/most of the things we have heard Wright says, what would that have to do with anything?

    Just a *typical white person* here, asking a question.


    JC wrote on May 28, 2008 07:34 AM: Bonzy, what exactly is a "Muslim Plant"? And, supposing Obama were Muslim, what would that have to do with anything? Look where the good "Christian" man, George Bush has gotten us. Religion is the single most devisive issue and as such should play absolutely no part in government. It blows my mind that ideology based on speculation, conjecture and "faith" causes so much pain and suffering in the world.


    William Bonzy wrote on May 28, 2008 07:14 AM: Obama is a Muslim Plant, wake up America!!!


    Helen Weils wrote on May 28, 2008 06:52 AM: Obama is a smooth talking con man.


    Herb wrote on May 28, 2008 04:22 AM: It's possible Obama will win the popular vote yet lose the electoral college. This just goes to show the wisdom our founding fathers had, they wanted the smaller states to have a voice and not let the elitists in major population centers have all the say.


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