misfire elections, 8–9, 19, 119, 170–172, 177

Monroe, James, 30–31

National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, 180

National Popular Vote Campaign, 37

New Hampshire primary

in 2000, 56, 58

in 2004, 88–89

in 2008, 122, 126, 152

Nixon, Richard, 31, 41, 45, 124, 132

nomination of electors See also selection methods of electors, 4, 27–28, 69–67

party committee, 27–28, 69–71, 74–80, 82, 95–96, 112, 138–139

party option, 27, 96, 138

personal method, 27–28, 69–71, 81, 95–96, 138

state convention, 27, 69, 74–77, 112–113

Obama, Barack, 9–11, 119, 125–133, 140, 145, 151–155, 161, 178

citizenship, 10–11, 132–133, 140, 162

original intent of the Electoral College, 22–25, 30, 32, 38–39, 169–173, 176, 183–184

Padden, Mike See also faithless electors, 31, 45–46

Palin, Sarah, 140, 152–155

Parks, Preston See also faithless electors, 45–46

party tickets, 6, 15, 17, 21, 24–25, 28, 36, 38, 41–45, 47, 49, 54–55, 59, 68, 72, 82, 86, 96, 98–101, 104, 106–108, 110–111, 139–141, 150, 154–155, 158, 162, 176, 178, 181

Paterson, David, 23

Paul, Ron, 121, 123–124

Pennsylvania (nomination method), 27–28, 69–70, 95, 101, 138

Perry, Rick, 124

pledged electors See also bound electors, 28–31, 50, 97–100, 114, 141, 143, 145, 178

Plumer, William, 30

political activity of electors

in 2000, 60–63, 65–74, 76–78, 81–82

in 2004, 91, 93–96, 102–106, 113–115

in 2008, 135–139, 147–152, 161

Populist movement, 8

presidential approval rating

Bill Clinton, 55

George W. Bush, 131

presidential elections

1796 election, 24–25, 29, 32

1800 election, 6, 24, 174

1872 election, 30, 181

1876 election, 5–6, 8, 36, 174

1912 election, 30, 181

1960 election, 31, 40, 44–45

1972 election, 33, 44–45

1980 election, 36, 41, 170

1988 election, 7, 31, 44–45, 47, 128, 159

2000 election, 4, 7–9, 15, 17, 54–60, 71, 76, 79, 82, 90, 165–166, 177, 184

2004 election, 7, 9, 36, 38, 74, 85–91, 96