Chester Republican Proposes New Policy For Electoral Votes

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- A prominent Pennsylvania political analyst sees tinkering behind a Republican proposal to change the way the state's electoral votes are awarded in presidential elections. But it's not the kind of power play most people might think is involved.

Instead of the winner getting all of Pennsylvania's electoral votes, Chester Republican Dominic Pileggi – the Senate majority leader – proposes to give the winner of the statewide presidential race two electoral votes, and then award each candidate one electoral vote for each congressional district they win. Pileggi and Governor Tom Corbett say that would more closely reflect the popular vote. Democrats see an effort to help Republican presidential candidates.

But Franklin and Marshall College political analyst Terry Madonna thinks it's more about boosting GOP candidates for other statewide races by forcing Democrats to spend less money to get out the vote in places like Philadelphia.

"And place their money in a limited number of congressional districts without huge Democratic registration majorities," Madonna says.

In any event, Madonna believes the proposal is poorly thought out and could backfire.

Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio