Ah! But the US does not elect the chief executive! The President is elected by the Electoral College. It is not, and never has been, a one-person, one-vote where the Pres is concerned.

(Whether this is good or not is irrelevant to the discussion. Personally I think that it should be decided by a combat between everyone crazy enough to want to the job -- a melee, and the survivor becomes President. And no champions or substitutes allowed!)