well, two bears, your technical arguments about the electoral college and the Constitution have been addressed by others...just to clarify MY post, I was only addressing what I feel to be the attitude that is a major factor in keeping the electoral system in spite of obvious difficulties with it in this modern age.

The ENTIRE system needs to be revised, from the selection of candidates to the finance laws to the primary system to the actual voting and counting. (and you are correct, two bears, that the news media has no business reporting before all votes are cast)....but as has been noted, there is a great difficulty in revising the system, as no one trusts the other side not to 'revise' it to favor their interests and voting habits.

As to the Supreme Court, it is widely believed that it had no business taking that case about the Florida election, as it then became de facto involved in deciding the election. Oh, sure...those who understood that the court makeup would undoubtably decide in a way that favored Republican wishes had NO trouble interpreting the Constitution to justify sending the court into new territory! "First you throw the dart...then you draw the bullseye"

Right now the Republicans are busy appointing judges, making laws, manipulating the tax system, Gerrymandering the voting districts, pressuring (and buying)the media, creating lobbies and special interest groups, designing ad campaigns, influencing the educational system..(especially the textbook procurement process)..etc...etc..to try to ensure that they will always retain power in all significant areas, while retaing the appearance of democracy.
(yes, I know..all political parties try to maximize their advantage in some of these ways...they want to win! But this is different...the influence of Christian fundamentalism in the Republican/conservative ranks has changed the "we want to win" attitude to a "we MUST win because it is justified by 'higher principles' and is for the good of all...we KNOW this." ....This is an attitude that we see expressed in various repressive regimes throughout history, and in many countries today, usually with religious justification overlaying the whole thing.)

Is all that relevant to the thread question? Well, in my opinion, replacing the electoral system would level the playing field a lot more, making it more difficult for any group to stack the deck thru control of just a few states. You will note how much energy and $$$$ will be spent in Ohio, Florida and several other states this Summer and fall...Alabama & Alaska & Kansas are not exactly problems for Bush & his steamroller........