During the 2008 general election, New Yorkers contributed upwards of $90 million to the campaigns of Barack Obama and John McCain (more than 10% of all the money raised nationally). And yet, the two campaigns spent less than $4,000 on advertising in the Empire State.
From August 1 until the election, neither Obama nor McCain conducted a single public campaign event in New York. For comparison purposes, combined they held 12 separate events in Nevada.
The stark reality is that, unless you're a campaign donor, regular New Yorkers are largely irrelevant in presidential campaigns. The candidates don't visit here, they don't advertise here, and they don't do anything to actively engage New Yorkers in the campaign.
How can the third largest state in the country be an afterthought in presidential campaigns?
Simple. New York is a safe Democratic state in presidential elections. Obama knew he was going to win New York. McCain knew he was going to lose New York.
More specifically, New York is ignored in presidential elections because all of our electoral votes are awarded to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in the state. The actual margin of victory doesn't matter. Obama was going to receive our 31 electoral votes if he received 51% or 80% of the popular vote.
Known as the "winner-take-all" rule, this manner of awarding electoral votes (used by 48 of the 50 states) means that candidates from both parties can disregard those states where they are comfortably ahead or hopelessly behind.
New York isn't alone on the sidelines. 34 states and the District of Columbia are spectators to the presidential campaigns. The "battleground" states receive all of the attention. In both 2004 and 2008, candidates concentrated two-thirds of their campaign events and advertising money in just six closely divided "battleground" states, and 98 percent in just 15 states.
A solution is pending before the New York Assembly right now.
The National Popular Vote bill (A1580B) will instead elect the President by a national popular vote. It will guarantee that the candidate receiving the most popular votes in all 50 states and DC will always be elected.
The National Popular Vote bill would reform the Electoral College so that it reflects the nationwide choice of the people. It would take effect only when enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes -- that is, enough electoral votes to elect a president (270 of 538). When the bill is in effect, all the electoral votes from the states that enacted the bill would be awarded, as a bloc, to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). The bill would guarantee the presidency to the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide.
The bill has already passed the New York Senate on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 52-7. It is currently awaiting action this session in the Assembly where it has 79 sponsors (and only needs 76 votes for passage).
A total of 30 legislative chambers in 20 states across the country have approved the National Popular Vote bill. It is supported by more than 70% of people nationwide and a whopping 78% here in New York. It has received editorial support from the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, and dozens of other papers throughout the country.
A national popular vote means that every vote in every city, village, and town, in every state will count. And will count equally. A vote in Buffalo will be the same as a vote in Boca Raton. A vote in Corning will be as sought after as a vote in Cleveland. Manhattan will matter as much as Miami.
A national popular vote means that candidates have to campaign in New York. They have to pay attention to our issues. New York concerns will no longer take a back seat to those in Ohio, Florida, or Nevada.
Please contact your legislator and encourage them to bring the National Popular Vote bill up for a vote before the Assembly session ends.