Hillary Calls for End to Electoral College

A L B A N Y, N.Y., Nov. 10 -- Senator-elect Hillary Rodham Clinton began avictory tour of upstate New York today by calling for eliminationof the Electoral College.

At an airport news conference in Albany, the first lady said shewould support legislation seeking a constitutional amendmentproviding for the direct election of the president.

At the moment, Americans are waiting to see who wins Florida’s25 electoral votes and thus becomes the next president. VicePresident Al Gore leads Republican George W. Bush in the popularvote nationwide, but the unofficial vote count in Florida has himslightly behind Bush.

“We are a very different country than we were 200 years ago,” Mrs. Clinton said. “I believe strongly that in a democracy, we shouldrespect the will of the people and to me, that means it’s time todo away with the Electoral College and move to the popular electionof our president.”

The first lady also said that because of the closeness of thisyear’s presidential election, “I hope no one is ever in doubtagain about whether their vote counts.”

Meeting with Bill’s Co-Sponsor

Clinton was accompanied by Democrat Rep. Michael McNulty, anAlbany County Democrat who has co-sponsored Electoral Collegelegislation introduced by Illinois Republican Rep. Ray LaHood.

LaHood has introduced his bill in each of the last twocongressional sessions, but aside from a 1997 hearing granted as afavor by House Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde, R-Ill., it has notadvanced.

McNulty thinks the measure will gain momentum if Gore wins thepopular vote but loses the electoral tally.

At a later stop in Syracuse, the first lady hedged when asked if shefelt Gore should pursue legal action in Florida if the vote recountthere leaves him short of victory.

“I’m not an expert on election law in Florida,” she said. “Ithink that whatever is appropriate in terms of reaching aconclusion that people will accept as fair and which puts apriority on ensuring that people’s votes count, should bepursued.”