When it comes to the fairness of the electoral college, the rhetoric of state parties changes with situation.

In North Carolina, Democrats pushed for changes in the way North Carolina awards its 15 electoral votes. Beyond the obvious reason of wanting to break up a red state so as to let the pockets of blue show through in a national election, Democrats also cited the ideals of democracy and representation.

But in California, Republicans are using the same rhetoric to justify breaking up the state’s 55 electoral votes.

Democrats aren’t going for it and have launched campaigns to prevent the ballot initiative from passing.

The move would have a damaging effect on a Democratic candidate’s chance of winning the 2008 election, far greater an impact than any benefits resulting from North Carolina changing its system.

It’s all in the numbers. If both states had the proposed systems in place in 2004, John Kerry could have expected 4 electoral votes from North Carolina, but would have lost 22 votes from California, totalling a net loss for Democrats of 18 votes.

Which is one of the reasons Howard Dean, whose knowledge of political trends goes farther than my simple arithmatic, stepped in this summer (DTH Story.)

Just follow the votes.

- Alexander