‘I Didn’t Realize You Support Abolishing the Electoral College’: Andy Beshear Stuns CBS Anchor With Plan to ‘Fix the Darn’ Gov

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear admitted he favors abolishing the electoral college while speaking to CBS News’ Ed O’Keefe on Face the Nation Sunday.

Beshear launched into a lengthy rant in which he said “people want you to fix the darn economy, and they want you to fix the darn government” and “people also think this government is broken.”

He then added:

So, fix the darn government. Constitutional amendment. It is time. It should outlaw partisan redistricting and enshrine part of the Voting Rights Act right there in the constitution. It should create term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court. No more gaming those appointments. It should also overturn Citizens United, and I think call for direct elections of the president and the vice president. That could actually make things work. A big idea that would, yes, change government, but in a way enshrined in the constitution where people would know it’s going to get better.

“I didn’t realize you support abolishing the Electoral College. If you’re saying direct election of the president and vice president,” O’Keefe answered.

Beshear confirmed his stance and added, “Yeah, I’ve said it a number of times, and it’s because in Kentucky we will never see a candidate for president or vice president unless they’re from here.”

After he was asked why, the governor added, “Because people just expect that it’ll go one way or the other. It’s the idea that someone would get elected not just knowing about seven states, but having to earn votes all over the United States. I certainly think it’s time.”

O’Keefe also asked Beshear about his own potential presidential run.

“Well, I haven’t made any final decision on that, but I am traveling the country because we’re going to elect Democratic governors in places that people aren’t expecting,” he answered.

Beshear continued, “We’re up in Iowa and Ohio. We’re fighting hard in Georgia and Nevada. We have great candidates. Even places like Alabama, we saw Democratic primary turnout double. Double. I’ve never seen that before. So I’m excited about what we’re seeing. For me, I just refuse to leave a broken country to my kids or to anyone else’s.”

Watch the above via CBS.

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