Rubbish. There are examples where dark horse candidates managed to get to the second round. EC ensures that, even if a candidate is doing particularly well (for an underdog), he or she has absolutely no chance to gain even a single electoral vote, thus ensuring status quo.
It also ensures there is no point to actually take other candidates seriously. There were four presidential candidates, and there were three presidential debates involving only two candidates. It means the only voice that is heard is the voice of the establishment of two major parties.
It doesn't even do that.As to what the Electoral College was supposed to do and how it works now, the tripartite relationship between the people, States and Federal Government has been far more substantially altered. It still does, however, maintain one of the important functions it was designed for, being the insurance that all States have some degree of representation.
It actually ensures that a lot of time is devoted to issues in swing states, while bigger states who vote consistently red or blue are overlooked. Climate change might be a more serious issue in California than in Wisconsin, but no one really pays attention to California because it all goes to Democrats.
It also serves to reinforce existing biases and prejudices. Republicans can ignore issues of Californians because they know they're gonna lose there. They can get 10% more of the vote in California and it doesn't matter. In case of a popular vote, just a 5% better result means over 2 million votes more.
Just getting rid of winner takes all system would be a step in the right direction. Than all states would be important and candidates would be forced to devote time and resources to address all issues, not just focus in key swing states.
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