Watch CBS News

Fred Thompson Promotes 'National Popular Vote' Initiative In Harrisburg

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - The state capitol was the scene of two events promoting distinctly different ways of changing the way Pennsylvania's presidential electoral votes are awarded.

Actor and former Senator and former Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson is part of a bi-partisan effort to create a compact agreement among states to award all of their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote, no matter who wins the state vote for president.

He says another election like the one in 2000 would be devastating.

"A president this day and time doesn't need to come in office with any questions as to their legitimacy having not gotten the most votes. It's just that simple."

Thompson took part in a Harrisburg news conference promoting what's been dubbed the "National Popular Vote" initiative.

Meanwhile, in another part of the capitol on Tuesday, a state Senate committee held a hearing on a controversial bill that would change Pennsylvania's winner-take-all system to one that would see one electoral vote awarded for each congressional district a presidential candidate wins.

Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.